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Ethanol Alley

The Indy Racing League (www.indycar.com) opens the 2007 season with the debut of the new 3.5 liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade Ethanol.

The Indy Car series opens March 24, 2007, at the Homestead - Miami Speedway. There are 17 scheduled races including the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2007. This is the first Racing Series to power their engines with 100 percent Ethanol fuel. The Indy Racing League has been testing fuel grades for years, including the 1927 Indianapolis 500 where a driver, Leon Duray, drove a car powered by grain (ethyl) alcohol.

Renova Energy, (www.renovaenergy.com) will supply the Ethanol to the Indy Car Series for the 2007 season. Renova Energy produces approximately 10 million gallons of Ethanol per year.

The Series replaced gasoline with Methanol in the 1970's due to safety concerns. Both Methanol and Ethanol burn at lower temperatures. The Indy Racing Series has made a transition from using 90 percent methanol 10 percent Ethanol in 2006 to the opening race of 2007 where they will debut with 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol.

Politics may have been a factor in the decision to switch to Ethanol; however, the anticipation of using a fuel which is made here in the USA, certainly is hopeful and exciting.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.