UND's hydrogen-fuel-cell racer played leapfrog with the solar-powered racer from Kansas State on the latest leg of the 2,600-mile North American Solar Challenge.

"It works like a charm," said UND team member Michelle Sterle, of Hibbing, Minn., about Subzero IV H2, the UND racer, which experienced technical problems for the first 2,000 miles.

UND and about 20 other teams from across the United States and Canada were sitting Tuesday in Medicine Hat, Alta., awaiting this morning's stage start for the race.

It will be the final leg of the race -- about 190 miles -- to the finish line inn Calgary, Alta. It starts at 8 a.m. today.

Before arriving in Medicine Hat, UND camped with members of the Kansas State team in Gull Lake, Alta., Sterle said. The teams enjoyed root beer floats and brownies, compliments of UND team leader Josh Howland's family, which following Subzero in a recreational vehicle.

UND's hydrogen-powered vehicle is running the race as a demonstration model against a field of solar cars. Race organizers are using the UND car as a gauge to develop a hydrogen-fuel-cell racing class in the future.

As of late Tuesday, the University of Minnesota solar car held a narrow lead over the University of Michigan and the third-ranking car from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

UND's times and rankings are not being recorded because of its demonstration class. Sterle said UND is feeling much better about how things are going after finishing ahead of a few solar cars in the leg from Regina, Sask., to Medicine Hat.

"Our team spirit definitely has doubled since our car is up and running," Sterle said.