A couple hours before the race I spoke with Bobby Rahal of Rahal-Letterman racing and asked him about his thoughts on the completion of the first season for burning a 98% blend of ethanol out on the Indy Racing League tracks.
Listen to my interview with Bobby here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/Rahal_Bobby.mp3]
I managed to grab some shots of Ryan Hunter-Reay as he was gearing up just before the race. Earlier, I grabbed an interview with the Team Ethanol Driver getting some final thoughts before the 2007 season closer.
Listen to my interview with Ryan here:
The 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 race is underway! I’ll be bringing updates of the season finale race here at the Chicagoland race track throughout the day.
The 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 marks the first time the President of Eclipse Inc. has gotten to peer into the cockpit of an IndyCar and meet Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay. In fact, it’s the first time Lachlan Perks has been to an EPIC sponsored racing event. Lachlan and I chatted about his experience and about ethanol.
Listen to my interview with Lachlan here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/Perks_Lachlan.mp3]
What could be a better souvenir for the EPIC 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 experience than an autograph from Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay? Well, perhaps a picture and a souvenir would be better. Well, members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and sweepstakes winners Jerry and Bud Carter got both. Ryan was a true sport and was eager to accommodate the members, signing autograph cards, tickets, photos and shirts. Be sure to access the group photos with Ryan by clicking the link to the Flickr photo album below.
Members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and the Race to Go Green Sweepstakes winners, Jerry and Bud Carter toured the garage that houses the Team Ethanol IndyCar this morning. Mechanics explained the complex construction of theses IndyCars from its electronic capabilities, $30,000 detachable steering wheel, design, construction and maintenance, down to the very fuel that IndyCar engines burn: a 98% blend of ethanol fuel.
It has already been a busy day here at the Chicagoland race track in Joliet, IL. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has a lot going on for its members and for its Race to Go Green Sweepstakes Jerry and Bud Carter winners at the final IndyCar Series Race for the 2007 season. 
I’ll be posting coverage on the garage tour and the autograph session with with Ryan Hunter-Reay, along with interviews from several EPIC members, EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka, Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and Rahal-Letterman Racing’s very own Bobby Rahal. But first, I need to run down to the track and grab some shots of Jerry and Bud during their “Hot Lap,” a trip around the track in an official pace car as part of the VIP treatment these two are receiving as sweepstakes winners. I’ll catch you up to speed with everything EPIC has going on when I get back.
Ethanol Promotion and Information Council leadership are enjoying the perfect race weather with today’s high in the tepid 80s here at the Chicagoland track. Robyn Slunecka, Executive Director Tom Slunecka, and Director of Industry Relations Steve Rust grabbed Firehawk for a quick photo op.
It will be the first time ever that fans can win a Indy single-seat driving experience during the month of May – the month of the Indianapolis 500. Peak Antifreeze and GoDaddy.com are sponsoring the 2008 IndyCar Series Driving Experience Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes will offer fifteen fans a VIP experience during the Pole Qualifying Weekend and the 2008 Indianapolis 500. Danica Patrick will offer the winners race training and tips before they drive a single-seat a retired IndyCar around the 2 and half mile track.
Listen to Danica commenting on the sweepstakes here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/Patrick_Danica_Peak.mp3]
The man first in the running for the 2007 IndyCar Series Championship wins the pole position for the final race of the season. Canadian Club Driver Dario Franchitti secured the pole with a qualifying speed of 214.646 mph and a qualifying time of 25.4931 seconds. Sam Hornish Jr. snatched the second pole position with a qualifying time of 25.5115 seconds and Helio Castroneves grabbed the outside pole with a qualifying time of 25.5248 seconds.
“It’s nice to start up front, have a clear track… we’ve got to work hard on keeping the car out there tomorrow,” Dario said.
