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Ethanol and Racing at 92nd Indy 500

EPIC members applaud at the start of the 92nd Indy 500Ethanol isn’t just out on the track, but also in parking lots and parked in the infield at the Brickyard in Indianapolis, IN. And that’s something VeraSun CEO Don Endres (not pictured) is happy to see. Don is up in the Team Ethanol suite watching the 92nd Indy 500 with a few dozen other EPIC members as we speak. Just before the race I caught up with Don to talk about the success, challenges and future of ethanol over the past year with ethanol being showcased in the Indy Racing League. Don says he believes the ethanol industry is on the verge of a revolution with both starch-based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol. He adds that cellulosic ethanol should be a commercially viable option for the fuel industry in three to five years.

You can listen to my interview with Don here:
indy-08-endres.mp3

I also spoke with Jeff Broin (not pictured), CEO and founder of POET. He made a point to debunk claims that ethanol raises the prices of food. We also spoke about the future of ethanol production at POET, including cellulosic ethanol. Jeff wants to see more ethanol out at the pumps and says blender pumps are a big key to getting more ethanol into consumer fuel tanks.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here:
indy-08-broin.mp3


2008 Indy 500 Photo Album

    3 Comments »

  • [...] event where people celebrate 33 cars getting only 2 or 3 miles per gallon for 500 miles? Even after switching to ethanol, it’s become a celebration of using thousands of gallons of corn fuel produced with oil-based [...]

  • May 30, 2008 — 12:10 am

    G. Maher

    When did the Indy 500 drivers start using methanol? Can you give me the historical use of various fuels? i.e. when each different fuel was used?
    Thanks
    G. Maher

  • May 30, 2008 — 12:25 am

    Cindy Zimmerman

    IRL switched from gasoline to methanol after two drivers were killed in a fiery crash during the 1964 Indy 500. The league switched to a 10 percent ethanol/90 percent methanol blend with the 2006 season, and went 100 percent ethanol last year.

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