A team of solar-car builders from Illinois State University had a tough day at an international race. But the team gets to race on.

Team President Sarah Noll tells The Pantagraph in Bloomington (http://bit.ly/1DLpaI1 ) that the Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge allowed the 11-member group to continue racing even after its car failed to finish Thursday's run.

Noll said the problem was a loose connection between the solar array and the batteries. The fix wasn't difficult, but took enough time that the car didn't run the minimum number of laps.

Up next is a three-day race on city streets and desert roads.

Noll is one of the drivers. She said it was a thrill to drive a car the group built.