Ethanol was the center of attention outside the US Senate building in Washington DC Wednesday as Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh of Indiana joined with members of the ethanol industry to mark the use of 100 percent fuel grade ethanol in the IndyCar Series starting in Homestead this weekend.

Among those on hand to commemorate the event, organized by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and the Renewable Fuels Association, was Team Ethanol IndyCar driver Jeff Simmons who addressed a large crowd of media representatives.

EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka said several other lawmakers in addition to Sens. Lugar and Bayh attended the event as well, including Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota.

“Lawmakers understand that ethanol is bringing a change in this country,” said Slunecka. “Our dependence on foreign oil is being reduced by the use of ethanol and they want to make sure that the momentum continues to grow so they turned out today to help show their support.”

EPIC board member Greg Krissek, Director of Government affairs for ethanol design firm ICM Inc, said increasing the use of the plant-based fuel is helping to reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil, revitalize rural economies and address global environmental concerns.

“We’ve seen that ethanol used as an oxygenate in engines reduces the amount of pollution out the tailpipe,” Krissek explained. “But even more importantly, ethanol is a renewable resource reducing the amount of hydrocarbon fuels that we need to use.”

The first race in the 2007 IndyCar Series takes place March 24 at 8:00 pm ET at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Read story from the IRL on the Capitol event.

(Photos courtesy of IRL and RFA)