The Race Is Back On

Chuck Zimmerman

The race is back on after a lengthy delay due to rain. Jeff Simmons in the ethanol car has been running very strong today. It looks like the race will be won on strategy and pit stop timing since the cars are pretty much out of sync with their normal plan. I’ll try to be in victory lane and the …

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

1,2,3: Simmons Hovers in Top 5, Drops to 7 During Rain Delay

John Davis

Ethanol Team IndyCar Driver Jeff Simmons has held a top 3 position for much of the race. Just before the rain delay, Jeff held first place in the 91st Indianapolis 500. But, just as the Ethanol Team poster boy pulled into the pits to refuel, the yellow flag dropped pushing Jeff back to 7th. Indy Series officials are holding off …

Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

The Race Is On

Chuck Zimmerman

Well the weather cleared up in time for the Indy 500 to get started. Here’s Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning waving the green “e” flag to start the race here this afternoon. I’ve posted the audio of the start for you each of the last couple years and this year is now different. In the following audio file you’ll hear …

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Ethanol Set To Break More Markets

John Davis

The man that built The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council from the ground up is Board President Tom Branhan, CEO and general manager of Glacial Lakes Energy. When I caught up with him on the bus, he said the transition to 100 percent ethanol fuel in the Indy Racing League is a major stride for the ethanol industry, and he …

Audio, Car Makers, E85, Energy, EPIC, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Indy 500 Reaffirms Ethanol As Trusted Fuel Source

John Davis

Amidst the hustle and bustle of race weekend events, I caught up with EPIC board member Don Endres of VeraSun Energy, a producer of fuel grade ethanol. Don said the Indy Racing League’s switch to 100 percent ethanol fuel is history in the making. He said the IRL’s investment in the fuel not only demonstrates to the world that ethanol …

Audio, Car Makers, E85, Energy, EPIC, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Weather Story in Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

The big story here in Indianapolis this morning has been the weather. It’s lightly raining now and the trucks are running the track to try to keep as much water off it as possible. You can’t race on a wet track. We’re hoping for some clearing today and will stay here as long as we can to cover the 91st …

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Jeff Simmons Reception Remarks

Chuck Zimmerman

The keynote speaker at the EPIC reception was IndyCar driver Jeff Simmons. Jeff was in great spirits on the eve of the big race here in Indy. I’ve got the audio from his remarks to the group last night. Jeff says that the story is how far ethanol has come and where things are at with the industry. He got …

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Ethanol On Ice

Chuck Zimmerman

I think it shows that you’ve “arrived” when you can have an ice sculpture at your reception. This one greeted us at the EPIC pre-race reception where members gathered to hear from a number of organizational representatives. I’m not sure how many people are here from the ethanol industry but we had a quite a crowd made up of founding …

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

EPIC Members Get VIP Showcase at Indy 500 Parade

John Davis

The theme for this year’s 50th IPL Festival Parade in downtown Indianapolis was “Spirit and Speed.” There certainly was a lot of spirit from the crowd as celebrity after celebrity filed by on classic cars and Indy-related floats. The parade showcased each of the 33 competitors for the Indy 500 race Sunday along with more than a dozen other high-profile …

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

The Nitty Gritty In the Garage

John Davis

Enough with the replicas. This time it was the real deal for EPIC Members. The ethanol team handed out all-access passes for a peek into what makes an IndyCar run at more than 230 miles an hour. Letterman-Rahal Racing’s Steve Shunck led members on a tour through the garages for Rahal-Letterman IndyCar Drivers Jeff Simmons and Scott Sharp. From the …

Audio, E85, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing