Beginning in 2006, Indianapolis 500, IndyCar Series will use ethanol
Continuing its technical leadership in the world of automobile racing, the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar® Series has partnered with the Ethanol industry to become the fuel supplier beginning with the 2006 season.
Ethanol is an alcohol derived primarily from grain. As a clean-burning and renewable fuel that is non-toxic and 100 percent biodegradable, it reduces harmful air pollution and improves racing’s environmental footprint. Its high octane rating delivers strong engine performance by helping engines resist detonation so they can run higher compression ratios.
The announcement was made today at historic Union Station on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where Tony George, the chief executive officer of the Indy Racing League, along with IRL President Brian Barnhart and Senior Vice President of Business Affairs Ken Ungar teamed with several high-ranking ethanol industry leaders and political figures, including Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
The target for the 2006 season is a maximum blend of 90 percent methanol and 10 percent ethanol for the IndyCar Series. This percentage of ethanol corresponds with ethanol blend commonly available to consumers at gas stations. Blend specifics will be determined in cooperation with the league’s 2006 engine manufacturer partners.
Beginning in 2007, the fuel will be 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in IndyCar Series cars, the same fuel that has the potential to replace at least 10 percent of the nation’s gasoline supply.
In his February State of the Union address, President George W. Bush recognized ethanol fuel as a reliable supply of affordable, environmentally responsible energy.
“My budget provides strong funding for leading-edge technology – from hydrogen-fueled cars, to clean coal, to renewable sources such as ethanol,” he said, during the Feb. 2 address.
“We are proud to partner with the Ethanol industry to showcase a great American fuel source," Ungar said. “We feel a commitment to the environment and our country's energy security is consistent with our sport’s legacy of race-bred innovation and leadership.”
The Indy Racing League has been in discussion for several years with a coalition of ethanol industry companies led by the major ethanol facility engineering and construction firms IMC Inc., Fagen Inc., and Broin Companies. Other groups involved in the discussion were the ethanol trade and advocacy groups including the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington, D.C., the American Coalition of Ethanol in Sioux Falls, S.D., the United States Senate Biofuels Caucus and the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition.
Race car engines operating on ethanol have demonstrated excellent performance due to the fuel’s high octane content. IndyCar Series cars have run on methanol fuel since the late 1960s, and will continue to do so during the 2005 season. Internal dynamometer testing has shown that there are no technical barriers to replacing methanol with ethanol.
“The transition between methanol and ethanol in our cars should be very smooth,” said Phil Casey, the Indy Racing League’s senior technical director. “Our cars won’t sound differently, smell differently or run differently than they have in the past. There will be a seamless transition from methanol to ethanol in our cars.”
Ethanol is the only proven commercial scale renewable transportation fuel currently available in the marketplace. The 2006 season will not be the first time ethanol fuel has powered a car in the famed Indianapolis 500. At the 1927 race, a car driven by Leon Duray was fueled by ethyl (grain) alcohols.
“Ethanol has long been common in many Midwest markets, and over the last several years it has succeeded in meeting market demand in California and the Northeast,” said Dave Vander Griend, president of ICM, Inc. “Production capacity for ethanol is keeping pace with the increased demand for quality fuel additives, and we are partnering with our petroleum customers as we move into new markets. We are extremely proud of this partnership with the IndyCar Series, and are eager to demonstrate the quality and performance of our product on the world stage.”
The IndyCar Series continues to set the standard in technological leadership in automobile racing. Over the past several years, the IRL has been on the forefront of many advances in auto racing, including the introduction of the SAFER Barrier in 2002 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; the use of three Delphi IRL Chevrolet Safety Trucks, which travel to all races, and are equipped with video cameras in the front and rear; and the use of a device on IndyCar Series cars that measures and communicates the impact of a crash to rescue and safety workers on the scene. Controlled by Delphi's accident data recorder (which also is required on all cars) a light illuminates when a crash reaches or exceeds a pre-set threshold, informing safety workers that an injury is more likely.
To help build anticipation and awareness for this significant milestone among the IndyCar Series’ dedicated fans, the ethanol industry is sponsoring one entry in this year’s IndyCar Series lineup. The No. 91 Ethanol Hemelgarn Dallara/Toyota/Firestone entry will be driven by Paul Dana. Team owner Ron Hemelgarn was one of the founding members of the Indy Racing League, and his cars won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and the 2000 IndyCar Series Championship.
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The IRL IndyCar Series opens its 10th season of competition with the Toyota Indy 300 at 2 p.m. (EST) on March 6, 2005 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be televised live on ESPN and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network and indycar.com. The 2005 Menards Infiniti Pro Series season also opens on March 6 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be televised by ESPN2 at 4 p.m. (EST) on March 17.
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