In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee Thursday, USDA Undersecretary Tom Dorr paid tribute to Indy race car driver and ethanol advocate Paul Dana for his contributions to the ethanol industry.
“Last month I was in Indianapolis for an ethanol event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Dorr said. “While I was there I met Tanya Dana, the wife of Paul Dana. Paul is the young driver who was killed back in March during practice for another race. Paul was also the young man who had the idea and then persuaded Tony George, the president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to switch to ethanol.”
Dorr noted the grassroots nature of Dana’s effort to bring ethanol to the Indy Racing League. “Paul and Tanya Dana were a couple of farm kids with an idea, and Tony George runs a family business. Most people don’t think of the Indy 500 that way, but it’s a third generation family business.”
You can listen Dorr’s full remarks to the committee here: Tom Dorr (4:25 min MP3)