Have a very happy 4th of July celebration wherever you are.
Here in America’s heartland it was nice to see a little rain happen early. We needed it. Now hopefully it will clear up so we can get outside and relax a while.
Safe travel if you’re on the road today or anytime this week.
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation have announced plans to double the annual production of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) to two million by the year 2010. 
According to an Illinois Corn Growers release, the auto manufacturers pledged this commitment last week in a letter addressed to members of Congress signed by Chrysler Group President and CEO, Tom LaSorda, Ford Motor Company Chairman and CEO, Bill Ford and General Motors Chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner. 
They indicated that through additional production of these vehicles, the country can help secure energy independence. They also indicated that the increase in production of FFVs can not do this job alone; the government must assist in allowing incentives for alternative fuel infrastructure and the price of E85 must be competitive to gasoline.
Read the complete letter here.
Team Ethanol had an honorary pit crew member this weekend in Kansas City. It was a dream come true for 21-year-old Casey Brickey, who suffers from a progressive form of muscular dystrophy. Last year Brickey teamed up with the ethanol industry to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association to fuel the fight for a cure. The ethanol industry donated $20,000 and helped raise additional funds through matching dollars and donations. For his efforts, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council sent Brickey and his family on the all-inclusive trip to the Kansas Speedway for a day in the pits with Team Ethanol.
Casey and Jeff Simmons took time out Saturday to pose for a pit pic.
Willie Nelson is celebrating our nation’s energy independence this week in Carl’s Corner, Texas with opening of his joint venture production plant, Pacific Biodiesel Texas.
According to a National Biodiesel Board release, Nelson and Pacific Biodiesel decided to open the plant during the July 4th holiday week because, as Nelson put it, “this will be a true Texas Independence Day.” The July 3 celebration of the plant opening will be held in conjunction with an all day concert at Carl’s Corner, a replica of Nelson’s annual 4th of July picnic at the Stockyards in Fort Worth. The event and concert will likely draw 10 to 15 thousand people.
It was a hot one at the Kansas Speedway today for the Kansas Lottery Indy 300. Jeff Simmons had a great day, finishing 10th after starting out in the number 17 position.
Here he is pulling off the track yesterday after some practice laps.
Once again ethanol is a winner no matter which car won (Sam Hornish Jr. today).
I have to say that when you hear an Indy car cranking it up on the track it does get your pulse racing along with it.
This morning was practice lap time for the Indy cars. Here’s Jeff Simmons in the pit after a couple laps. He was hitting 209 MPH last I looked.
Tomorrow’s race is relatively early and can be seen on ABC at 1pm central time.
For a preview you can watch the #17 car come by during a practice lap here: 
Jeff Simmons Practice Lap (30 sec WMV)
Out at Kansas Speedway early on a Performance Weekend Saturday I found the ethanol symbol everywhere you look.
Here’s where the fuel comes from for the race cars. It’s only 10 percent this year but going up to 100 percent next year.
It’s my first time at this racetrack. Very nice and compact and easy to get in and out of. The media staff were very friendly and helpful for this newbie.
Keep an eye on tv for the race and cheer on number 17 if you can.
After leaving Washington, DC and the convoy I’ve been travelling with for the last 2 weeks it was on to Kansas City for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council’s “Performance Weekend.” This is a weekend of activities for EPIC members that includes Sunday’s Kansas Lottery Indy 300 race.
Here’s some members from Sterling (Colorado) Ethanol, which is building a plant in Yuma, CO checking in prior to the evening welcome reception.
Also on hand was Rahal-Letterman team driver, Jeff Simmons. Jeff will be driving the #17 Ethanol Car in tomorrow’s race.
I asked Jeff how things are going and what ethanol has meant from a competitiveness standpoint in the season so far.
He says that one effect seems to be less engine problems and attributes that to the cleaner burning ethanol blend they’re using in the Indy cars this year.
Here’s my interview with Jeff: 
Jeff Simmons Interview (3 min MP3)
At the end of the cross country convoy adventure, we had one last press conference as our closing ceremony for the historic trip.
It was supposed to be held on the Elipse at the zero mile marker but weather concerns put us indoors at the Reagan Center. Outgoing Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was on hand just as he was at our start in San Francisco. Since our whole trip really honored the vision of one man, President Eisenhower, who signed the law creating the interstate highway system we also had a special guest on hand.
She is Mary Eisenhower, granddaughter to President Eisenhower. Like her son Merrill, who travelled with us, she is very well spoken.
Mary spoke on a very personal level and said of President Eisenhower that if she had one wish, it would be to say one last thing to him. She says she wishes he was here to see the progress that’s been made on his vision.
You can hear Mary’s remarks here: Mary Eisenhower Remarks (5 min MP3)
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Board members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council are meeting in Kansas City this weekend and going to the Indy race Sunday at the Kansas Speedway. One of those members is John Malchine, CEO of Badger State Ethanol in Monroe, WI. We got a call this morning from Wisconsin radio station KFAW-AM to talk about ethanol and we had them speak to John from the board meeting.
Chuck interviewed John at the Indy 500 last month and you can listen to that interview here: Malchine (3:25 min MP3)
