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The domestic ethanol industry is pleading with the Indy Racing League to reconsider the decision to make Brazil the official ethanol supplier for the 23 IndyCar Series races.
In a letter to IRL commercial division president Terry Angstadt this week, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen implored the IRL to “at least ensure that the Indianapolis 500 be run on American homegrown ethanol and suggested the league need look no further than the network of ethanol producers in the state of Indiana.”
Earlier this week, IRL announced a multi-year partnership with APEX-Brasil making the trade promotion agency the official ethanol supplier to the IndyCar Series beginning with the 2009 season. The deal includes cooperation from UNICA (the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association) to identify those interested in supplying ethanol to the series. Initially, UNICA will look to partner with a U.S.-based ethanol company to supply the IndyCar Series with corn-based ethanol.
“The move to other sources of ethanol is a natural progression as the ethanol industry continues to grow and evolve,” said Angstadt. “We continue to strive to be on the leading edge of the greening of racing. The IndyCar Series was the first motorsports series to mandate use of a renewable fuel, and now we will work with the ethanol industry in both the United States and Brazil to promote the use of all types of ethanol by consumers.”
Reportedly, the new agreement with Brazil does include an exception for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 to use domestically produced corn ethanol, but no exception for the Indy 500.
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November 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Many Indiana farmers attend the Indy 500. I think they should all stay home this year. The IRL has proven that all the hot air they have bown over the past 3 years about supporting the American farmer was just a bunch of bull. The IRL is big business and all they really care about is the doller.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
The “Corn” ethanol producers are getting killed in the “PC” game of public opinion.
You don’t fight “food to fuel,” and “Land use Changes” with blog posts, and speeches to corn growers.
If Dineen can make the switch, give him the money and let him do it. If he can’t, get rid of him and give the money to someone else.
But, above all, Give SOMEONE Some Money!
You’re being marginalized like two-bit grifters.
November 21st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
The U.S. ethanol industry had a successful strategy with the sponsorship, and it was effective in drawing attention for three years. The U.S. industry had every opportunity to renew, but chose not to continue. They want to focus elsewhere. Don’t fault the IndyCar Series for trying to fill a category slot for sponsorship, or the Brazilians for taking it over. That’s business, and it’s what pays to have the cars continue to go around the track. It’s not a good sign for the U.S. ethanol industry to give it up, but I don’t think anyone can say that it was stolen from them. The Brazilians can continue to promote the fuel, while talking about their global biofuels strategy, and the IndyCar Series can continue to showcase its use of a green fuel. Sounds smart to me.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
The IRL true colors show through and they are not Red, White and Blue. Simply out to sell a show for the highest buck. Terrible decision to abandon the American Farmer, American workers and domestic ethanol industry in a time their support is needed. Those involved in this decision should be ashamed of themselves.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
They should change their name to the Brazilian Racing League. American ethanol is made in Indiana. Foreign ethanol is made in Brazil. There’s no sense in swapping foreign petroleum with foreign ethanol. This year we sent $700 billion away by importing foreign oil. What could $700 billion have done for our domestic economy?!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
[...] Link to original article [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Some common sense from the IRL. They seem to realize that Brazilian sugar ethanol and Midwest corn ethanol are two different animals in terms of energy return and sustainability. Good for them.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Hi,
IRL should reconsider the decision of making Brazil the official ethanol supplier for the IndyCar Series races .
-Nancy
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Nice piece, I found an article about this here. Also checkout the slideshows: http://www.ethanolplug.com/PlugNews/WebExclusiveIndyCarChooseBrazilianEthanol/tabid/150/Default.aspx