 "Our decision to switch the IndyCar Series over to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol was a reflection of our confidence in ethanol's performance capabilities. The 2007 season proved that our confidence was not misplaced. Ethanol performed flawlessly from the first lap of preseason testing to the checkered flag at the season finale."
- Les Mactaggart, Senior Technical Director for the IndyCar Series
The IndyCar® Series was the first motorsports league ever to sanction a 100 percent renewable fuel in 2007– 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. Last March, under the lights of Miami, ethanol made is debut with great success among drivers, consumers and media. Ethanol is a high performance, domestically produced renewable fuel with distinct environmental benefits.
The move to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol makes the IndyCar Series the motorsports leader in using a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel, and fits with the Indy Racing League's long tradition of technological and safety innovations. Many of the league's innovations eventually become incorporated into passenger vehicle designs, benefiting drivers everywhere.
FACT: The transition to ethanol from methanol-based fuel has been a huge success from a performance standpoint. Without losing any horsepower or speed on the track, IndyCar Series cars burned 20,000 fewer gallons of fuel using ethanol than previous seasons using methanol.
Here are some interesting facts regarding ethanol and the IndyCar Series:
- All IndyCar Series cars must use the same fuel. This eliminates any potential competitive advantage a team might gain by using a specialized fuel.
- Pure ethanol has an octane rating of 113 compared to methanol's rating of 107.
- The octane rating of gasoline measures the fuel's ability to resist being ignited by the heat and pressure caused by compression (known as pre-ignition or knocking/pinging). Pre-ignition can rob the engine of power. A higher octane rating indicates a higher-performing fuel.
- The ethanol industry sponsors one entry in the IndyCar Series, the No. 17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol Honda/Panoz/Firestone. ICM, Inc., POET and Fagen, Inc. are the primary sponsors of Team Ethanol.
Consumers can also benefit from using ethanol-enriched fuel:
- All cars manufactured after 1980 can use up to a 10 percent ethanol-blend. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) can use E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline. There are more than 7 million FFVs on America’s roads today. There are more than 1,700 E85 stations across the country.
- Ethanol-enriched fuel is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel that reduces harmful tailpipe emissions and reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
- Ethanol-enriched fuel reduces pre-ignition problems such as knocking and pinging.
- Ethanol-enriched fuel alleviates starting problems in hot or cold weather.
- Ethanol-enriched fuel can tolerate water contamination to a far greater degree than gasoline alone; it absorbs moisture and helps prevent gasoline freeze-up in cold weather.
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