If the IRL does it, why not NASCAR? That’s the question some are asking, some even urging NASCAR to make the switch to ethanol, according to this SI.com article. SI seems to think if Jeff Gordon used ethanol it might make even more folks sit up and take notice. General Motors is actively encouraging NASCAR to make the switch.
Being a farmer today has its challenges. Being a farmer and a funny car driver simply magnifies those challenges. Mark Thomas is up to the challenge though. He is also one of the biggest proponents of ethanol you’re going to find anywhere.
Mark is a champion too, having one 5 national IHRA titles. He was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Ethanol Day. I had to wait in line to interview him as the kids and adults too stopped by for an autograph.
In my interview Mark talks about what he does for a living and how important he thinks public education about ethanol is to our country. You can to my interview with Mark here: 
Mark Thomas Interview (5 min MP3)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.3MB)
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman held a press conference here at Ethanol Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In his prepared remarks he paid tribute to Paul Dana and the work he did to promote ethanol and bring the industry and the IRL together as a tremendous promotional mechanism for this alternative energy resource. You can listen to the Secretary’s remarks here: Secretary Bodman Remarks (3 min MP3)
In case you’d like to watch the Secretary I got a video clip of most of his statement which you can watch here: 
Secretary Bodman Remarks (3 min WMV)
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is sponsoring five days of the Ethanol Fast Lap.
This is an award for the driver with the fastest lap of the day. Today is one of those days and as I said in a previous post, it was won by Sam Hornish, Jr. with a lap of 226.789 mph. He received a check for $2,500.
Other days in the promotion include: (May 17, 18, 26).
Increased awareness of domestic fuel alternatives is helping organizers of the 2nd Annual Green Grand Prix to be held in Watkins Glen, NY on June 2.
The Green Grand Prix features a road rally of Hybrid and Alternative Fueled Vehicles held on an 84-mile course following the perimeter of beautiful Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The event is designed to benefit the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association and executive director Carol Fitzgerald says they are getting all kinds of sponsorships and media attention.
“This started out as a regional event to emphasize energy independence and a cleaner environment, it has now started to take on a life of it’s own,” she says. “We have sponsorship from Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Ford. The IRL is sponsoring us and is sending their pace car a Honda Civic Hybrid and are getting back to me on other involvement. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) just phoned me last week and they are interested in a large involvement and sponsorship. They sponsor the Rahal/Letterman IRL race team and are checking on the availability of the Ethanol Indy Show Car and are sending their new IRL driver Jeff Simmons for an autograph session.”
The Green Grand Prix is the brainchild of Robert Gillespie an area artist who is a hybrid car owner and is very passionate about increasing awareness about the vehicles. Last year’s event was a huge success and very well received.
Today the Rahal-Letterman Racing team suffered a serious blow when the #17 Ethanol car was in a pre-race warmup accident and driver and ethanol champion Paul Dana died from the injuries he suffered.
“It is a black day for us, and on behalf of Rahal Letterman Racing, our sponsors and associates, our prayers and sympathy go out to the entire Dana family,”
said team co-owner Bobby Rahal, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner.
“This is a great tragedy. As a result, and in honor of Paul, we will not run the team’s No. 15 (with driver Buddy Rice, the 2004 Indy 500 winner) and No. 16 (with driver Danica Patrick, the 2005 Indy 500 and IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year) cars in today’s event.”
“Paul was a very special guy,” said David Vander Griend, president and CEO of ICM, a primary sponsor on the Team Ethanol car. “He demonstrated his belief in what ethanol can do for all of America through his racing. He helped us with so many things in bringing ethanol to the IndyCar Series. He will be missed tremendously. Our thoughts are with his family today.”
Domestic Fuel sponsor and Ethanol Car sponsor, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has released a statement. You can read the full release from EPIC here (Word doc).
I also spoke with EPIC Executive Director, Tom Slunecka a few minutes ago. He is obviously still in shock over the tragedy after spending some time with Paul during the last couple days and being onsite when the accident occurred. On behalf of the EPIC staff, board and members, Tom offers his condolences to the Dana family, his friends and teammates. You can listen to Tom’s statement here: EPIC Statement (1 min MP3)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (440.8KB)
Just before the Toyota Indy 300 got started this afternoon I found out about the tragedy this morning. Paul Dana, driver of the #17 Ethanol car for Rahal-Letterman Racing has died from injuries he suffered in a pre-race warmup crash. This is an absolute shock since I had just interviewed Paul yesterday afternoon. You can read the story on the Indy Racing League website here.
I will be speaking with Tom Slunecka, Executive Director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC)shortly and will post his statement. EPIC is a sponsor of the car that Paul Dana was driving.
Cindy and I offer our prayers for Paul, his family, the Rahal-Letterman team, EPIC and all the people affected by this tragedy. I had the honor to meet Paul and interview him several times over the last year. He is a hero in my eyes. You won’t find a better role model for what you can achieve if you work hard and stay focused. He was an untiring champion of ethanol and I can’t imagine at the moment what we’ll do without him.
I’ll have more information to post soon.
General Motors made ethanol history Friday when a Chevy Silverado E-85 Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) served as the pace car for the GM Flex Fuel 250 at Daytona race, starting the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, according to a news release.
“GM is delighted to be able to sponsor the event tonight,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “We are delighted to bring a lot more awareness to the benefits of ethanol to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.”
Ethanol Promotion and Information Council executive director Tom Slunecka was in Daytona for the event and congratulated General Motors for its success in creating consumer awareness of the value and benefits of ethanol. “GM’s promotion of E-85 fuel is helping to build the infrastructure needed for the ethanol industry to continue growing and replacing millions of barrels of non-renewable oil,” said Slunecka.
GM is really getting into this ethanol thing in a big way. If you haven’t checked out GM’s “Live Green, Go Yellow” website yet, you really should. It’s quite the deal. I would call the whole campaign very farmer friendly. For a little fun, play the Stalk Car Race game on the site. It’s cute – not real challenging, but cute.