Ed Delporte, an engineer for the Ed Carpenter Racing INDYCAR team, has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, the team announced. He was 53.

"Ed was one of Ed Carpenter Racing's original employees and has been with the team since its first race," the team said in an announcement of his passing on social media. "Not only was he a talented electronics engineer, he was a tremendous teammate and an integral part of our ECR family. A true historian of the sport, he attended 13 Indianapolis 500s before working 30. This year was his 31st and we are honored he was able to help us prepare for one more 500."

See the full announcement here.

Image courtesy of Ed Carpenter Racing