With two laps to go in the Indianapolis 500 – often considered “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – the second-place driver made a bold move, a final effort to take the lead at approximately 230 mph.
He faked to the outside of the track, then dipped inside the leader, nearly clipping the infield grass.
Almost stole the lead. From Ryan Hunter-Reay’s headset came a garbled voice: “Still there, still there.” Hunter-Reay sidled ahead of his competitor and straightened the wheels, accelerating and firmly in first place.
“Clear.”
The headset-delivered voice came from CAP Power Programs Administrator Bryce Dininger as Hunter-Reay would win the 2014 Indy 500. See the finish.
When Dininger is not “spotting” for CAP to help procure the best power prices available to save customers on their water rates, he’s either at the top of grandstands, or field level, at an IndyCar Series race, spotting for a driver with A.J. Foyt Racing, something he’s enjoyed for the past 12 years. He provides the driver details such as mechanical issues, reminders of available tools, or, like in this memorable Indy 500 finish, serving as a second set of eyes.
“It’s like being a golf caddie at 230 mph,” Bryce said of his high-paced hobby. “And the things I learn in auto racing I bring here to CAP.”
This is Dininger’s work of passion when he’s not helping manage the fulfillment of CAP’s water operations power needs and leading the procurement of power. And there are skills Bryce uses with his IndyCar experience to influence his CAP duties that often help CAP deliver water to users at a reasonable price.
Strategic direction: go high, go low
“He’s only looking to go low. He hasn’t been using the high line like you.”
At the track, Bryce might use such direction through the headset to alert his driver of an opponent’s habits or patterns. Some drivers prefer the middle of the road. Some don’t know the track had been swept in a certain area. But Bryce did. Now his teammate knows where to get more traction.
At CAP, during CAP’s weekly Water & Power meetings, Bryce might remind the group of historical patterns of power use that could affect the future. He might note that if Colorado River diversions unexpectedly rise above what was planned for at the beginning of the year, there is a cheapest time to move that water off the river. This is because water is heavy, and so costly to move – and CAP delivers it approximately 3,000 feet uphill across the canal system from Lake Havasu to 6 million living in central and southern Arizona. In general, it is cheaper to pump water at night and during winter months.
Along with Power Program Manager Jeff Ritter, Bryce is just one of two employees in CAP’s Power Program who use a diversified power portfolio to provide for future flexibility.
Teamwork: collaborating with an array of engineers
The creativity and technical savvy engineers use when applying science to solve problems might not be familiar to some.
In both racing and at CAP, Bryce – who obtained his Master’s in Business Administration but is not an engineer – is working alongside a plethora of these practitioners, something that drives one of CAP’s core values as stated in its Strategic Plan – teamwork.
A decisive mindset – in the headset
In racing, Bryce must react in real time during a maintenance malfunction to avoid a costly pit stop.
At CAP, power prices could change daily, and although those decisions are not instantaneous, his decisiveness, a skill honed from hours of on-the-fly decisions, becomes an asset. An example is when CAP takes advantage of negative “duck curve” prices that can change daily. What’s the duck curve? Learn more.
Power here, power there
Perhaps the most obvious connection between Bryce at the track and at CAP is high amounts of power.
At CAP, it’s used to move water. Bryce is strategically procuring the high amounts of energy needed to deliver it uphill to more than 80 percent of the state’s population living in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties.
On the track, burned, 100-percent renewable race fuel helps propel the automobile to engine roars and elite speeds.
Although the coincidence doesn’t drive the CAP mission, the connection is uncanny.
Personal life
Even when away from both endeavors, there’s no avoiding being a spotter.
Like riding “shotgun” in a friend’s car.
“I might say, ‘Hey, that car three ahead of you is swerving; I can almost guarantee they’re on the phone,” Bryce said. “And then sure enough, we see them on the phone and start laughing. And I’m like, ‘Hey, get by that person.’ ”
Although it’s not the Indianapolis 500, it’s another win for Bryce.
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