Iowa Indy Race Spotlights Corn Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Dario FranchittiThe only Indy race to still run on homegrown corn ethanol is just around the corner. The 2010 Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Pioneer, will once again showcase 100% race powered corn-ethanol during the 4th annual race in Newton, Iowa on June 20.

2010 Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti won the very first Iowa Corn Indy in 2007, when the series first started using 100 percent ethanol. He says Indy’s transition to ethanol was a winner. “It was a big deal for us when we first switched over to ethanol,” he said during an Indy racing press conference Monday. “We’ve had tremendous success as a series with ethanol and had a really seamless transition. It’s just been a real win-win situation for the IndyCar Series.”

The Iowa Corn Indy 250 has been a win-win for Franchitti, who won it again in 2009. He hopes to be able to take home a third fuel-pump designed trophy this year.

The Iowa Corn Indy 250 is presented by Pioneer, with support from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Grower’s Association. It is the only Indy race this year to run on corn ethanol, since Brazil’s ethanol industry has taken over sponsorship of the series and provides fuel for the rest of the races.

Listen to or download Franchitti’s comments about ethanol in the player below:

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing, Racing