Farms Fueling 500, Indy Cars Racing on 100% Ethanol this May

NASCAR has yet to make the switch, but beginning this racing season, cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be fueled 100 percent by ethanol. It’s a move Speedway President Tony George says was prompted by a desire by the IRL to be “socially responsible and innovative at the same time,” according to this piece in Hoosier Ag Today. In an accompanying audio file of the interview, George also notes the benefits to the agricultural industry and he adds that the Speedway sees the shift to ethanol as a “win win” for all involved. The article notes that there were some adjustments that had to be made for the cars to use ethanol, which burns hotter and results in better gas mileage for the cars. The IRL has been planning for greater ethanol use for years, beginning with an announcement in 2005 that the league would partner with the ethanol industry. Unfortunately the ethanol won’t be coming from the Midwest, but will be trucked in from Wyoming, according to the Billings Gazette.