Domestic Fuel

This is what my view was like as we left San Francisco this morning. Looking at the rear end of a vintage Hudson. I’ll have more on it and the driver in a future post.

To help you get a feel for what it was like I had to shoot a video clip. This is definitely not recommended by the state troopers who you will see.

You can watch it here: Rolling Through Town (3 min WMV)

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

The race has started. After the first lap we had a two-car accident but no injuries and car #17 is looking good right now. After this post I won’t do any until after the race.

The one thing you like to hear here is the famous words, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.” You can hear it here: Start Your Engines (1 min MP3) Post Update: I assumed that Ms Hulman would say “Lady” instead of “Ladies” but we thought it came out plural and after listening to my recording from the stands you can’t really tell. Those around me all thought she said it plural.

I’m also listening in on a radio scanner to the driver/pit communication which is very cool. It sounds like things are going well right now.

Watch here: Cars Home Stretch (1 min wmv)

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Steve Dixon is the Team Manager for the Ethanol Car out here in the pits.

I interviewed him before the race to see how he feels about the race.

You can listen to the interview here: Steve Dixon Interview (2 min MP3)

I also wanted you to get a feel for what it looks like in the pit area before the action gets started so here’s a short video clip.

Watch here: Ethanol Car Pit Activity (1 min wmv)

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We’re getting very close to race time here in Indianapolis.

Prior to the start many of the people involved in the ethanol industry received a tour of the Rahal-Letterman garage area. Here they’re gathered around the Ethanol Car getting a lesson.

You can watch a short video clip here: Ethanol Car Garage Demo (2 min wmv)

Today has been a relatively quiet day here in Indianapolis. Except for the annual parade that is.

Here’s Ethanol Car driver Jeff Simmons passing by (along with Stephanie Soviar). The drivers are spaced out in the parade in the same row lineup as they will be in the race. Jeff is starting in row 9.

You can watch a short video clip from the parade here: Jeff Simmons In Parade (1 min wmv)

On my way out of the track today I stopped by the Chevrolet exhibit area. It’s huge. They’ve got pace car Corvettes from past races on display and a selection of AFV’s as well.

One of the things they also have is a stage for music. This band was playing and I shot a video clip of them for you.

You can watch it here: Chevrolet Stage Band (2 min wmv)

One of the highlight events on Carb Day here at Indy is the Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Competition.

Rahal-Letterman driver Buddy Rice was doing fine until he came up against Helio Castroneves, who won the competition.

I shot a short video clip of one of the final competition matches. You can watch it here: Pit Stop Competition (23 sec wmv)

After the Ethanol Summit program was over, it was time for a ride around the track. USDA Under Secretary Tom Dorr is inside the truck you see here on his second lap.

I got to ride in the truck afterward. They allowed 3 of us to ride along with the driver. I interviewed them all as we were making our laps today in the Chevrolet Ethanol Pace Truck.

The guys in the truck with me were Dan Edwards, Indy Track Racking Operations Director (driver), National Corn Growers Association Chairman, Leon Corzine and Waitt Farm Network Director, Emery Kleven. Emery took the picture of me in the back seat with Leon. You can listen to the interview here: Indy Pace Truck Interview (3 min MP3)

Just to make it interesting I also shot video clips. The first one here is a Pace Truck drive-by with the USDA Sec. inside. The second one is my ride inside the truck while doing the interview you can hear above.

Pace Car Drive-By (1 min wmv)

Pace Car Laps (3 min wmv)

At the conclusion of today’s Ethanol Summit, a little panel discussion was held.

Pictured are (l-r) EPIC Executive Director, Tom Slunecka, Indiana Lt. Governor, Becky Skillman and USDA Under Secretary Tom Dorr.

I shot a short video clip of one of their answers for you.

You can watch it here: Ethanol Summit Panel (3 min wmv)

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 Clean Cities Congress crowd kind of changed the slogan for Alice Cooper’s Town a little last night to “Where Rock and Alternative Fuels Meet.”

The band, Still Cruisin, had the crowd on the dance floor to some great rock and roll.

Just to give you a taste here’s a short video clip: Still Cruisin (WMV file)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

On my way out of the convention center yesterday I stopped by the Ride & Drive and found myself in a Global Electric Motorcars vehicle.

Riding with me is the company’s CEO, Lawrence Oswald. He held the microphone while I drove and interviewed him so you’ll hear some road noise.

Larry tells us about his company and the vehicles they make. He makes a point that the electric vehicle is perfect for in-town driving for short distances where you can be on streets with relatively slow speed limits. With no engine emissions the vehicle is certainly not putting particulates into the air.

You can hear the interview here: Larry Oswald Interview (4 min MP3)

I also had to take a short video clip too, not something I recommend to the untrained: Ride & Drive (WMV file)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

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Okay. One more post from this morning's Senator John McCain speech.

I thought you might want to see the whole venue.

As an added bonus you can see what the session looked like in this short video clip: John McCain Speech (1 min wmv)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

At our opening reception, hosted by General Motors we got to see a serious percussion performance. We went out to the Bentley Projects, a high-end art gallery. There we got to see Rhythm Extreme.

You’ve got to have rhythm and be in shape to do this. We were getting ourselves into shape prior to the performance with a culinary experience that you’d expect from GM. Think big shrimp, custom made pasta, champagne and cute blue on white GM cakes.

If you want to get in the Rhythm, then watch this 2 min video clip: Rhythm Extreme (wmv file)

If you just want to listen then check out this audio file of their first selection: Rhythm Extreme (3 min Mp3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors:

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I brought a home video camera for the media training workshop and got to tape the practice interviews like this one.

As a reporter it was interesting to see the process. Being put in front of a camera and having a microphone stuck in your face can be very intimidating. Practice makes perfect though.

Participants in the session got to hear from a number of individuals in the industry who have to deal with the media. Then it was time to volunteer and practice.

I recorded a short video clip of this participant being interviewed and videotaped: Media Training Practice (wmv file)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Clean Cities Congress is made possible by the following sponsors: