The 91st Indy 500 later this month will mark a huge milestone in the history of racing – the first Indy 500 to run on 100 percent fuel grade ethanol. The effort to get ethanol on the track has largely been driven by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), which was really only started just over two years ago …
Fillin’ Up and Feelin’ Good in KC
The ethanol industry has teamed up with the Indy Racing League and local retailers to help consumers really fill up and feel good by offering ethanol-enhanced fuel at a reduced price prior to most Indy races this season. This edition of Fill Up, Feel Good features the owner of Snappy Stores in Kansas City, Team Ethanol car driver Jeff Simmons …
Bobby Rahal Speech at National Press Club
I think Bobby Rahal was a big hit today at the National Press Club. There were a lot of other people from the ethanol industry on the head table but none of them got to speak or answer questions. Everyone was just excited to listen to this great competitor. Near the end of the hour session we did get to …
Green Racing By Bobby Rahal
For the first time ever an Indianapolis 500 winner spoke at the National Press Club today. Bobby Rahal was the featured speaker at today’s luncheon with the press. His topic was the “The Greening of Racing: Ethanol Powers the Indianapolis 500.″ He was a winner again today as he spoke and answered questions for about an hour in front of …
Why Monsanto Supports EPIC
One of the people I met at the Kansas Speedway this weekend was Troy Hobbs, Monsanto Corn Biofuels Strategy Lead (left). He’s pictured here with EPIC Executive Director in front of the Rahal-Letterman hospitality tent on race day. Troy explains why Monsanto has supported EPIC since it started. He believes that it’s very important to educate the public about the …
Jeff Simmons Qualifies at 210.994
The truck that transports Team Ethanol got a new paint job for this season. I hadn’t seen it before today. Looks pretty slick to me. It’s the end of the day for me here at Kansas Speedway. The Indy car qualifying is over now and Jeff Simmons got through it okay. His qualifying time is 210.994 MPH. That ethanol fuel …
IRL Loves Ethanol Public Relations
On hand at the pump promotion for ethanol in Kansas City yesterday was Amy Konrath (pictured to the right of two representatives of Rahal-Letterman Racing). Amy works in public relations for the Indy Racing League. I thought it would be interesting to hear her perspective about how the relationship between the IRL and Team Ethanol has benefited the League. She …
Jeff Simmons Feeling Confident
Although it was a cool morning yesterday, Indy car driver Jeff Simmons was on location at a pump promotion filling up gas tanks with gasoline blended with ethanol. I interviewed Jeff about how he thinks these localized pump promotions work in terms of helping with consumer awareness and education. He thinks they’re very beneficial. It helps when a lot of …
A Snappy Pump Promotion
It’s time for another Indy race. This time in Kansas City. It’ll be the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 this Sunday. This morning though the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council put on another pump promotion at the Snappy Store downtown. Pictured here are Snappy Stores owner, Ken Suter (left), and Jeff Simmons, Team Ethanol driver. They’re posing next to the new …
Bioenergy and Rural Development
Top international experts meeting in Rome last week agreed that bioenergy could be a positive force for rural development According to a news release from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) it was the first time that experts in bioenergy, food security and the environment came together to discuss the environmental and food security impact of the rapidly-expanding bioenergy industry. …