Tied in with the last story, here’s an article from the Lompoc (CA) Record about a restaurant owner who is saving over $500 a month in fuel costs by using recycled peanut oil in his Mercedes. According to the story – Gary Mead, who communtes about an hour each way from his home to his business, adds a 16-percent mixture of turpentine, gasoline, kerosene and cetane to the peanut oil, which helps thin out the fryer oil and bring the auto ignition temperature of the biodiesel low enough to explode in the engine instead of catching fire.
He says the additives to his free peanut oil cost him about 67 cents per gallon.
Bay-o Fuel
Bay Area Biofuel is striking oil in the San Francisco bay area “fueled by a new partnership with 150 of San Francisco’s oil-rich restaurateurs.” MSNBC gave them a nice write-up about the operation which “pumps close to 12,000 gallons of biodiesel automobile fuel each month, up from virtually none six months ago.”
RFA Rings the Bell
The Renewable Fuels Association today opened trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange at its Marketsite in Times Square. RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen (pictured with William O’Brien, NASDAQ senior VP) says he was honored to represent the U.S. ethanol industry during the opening bell ceremony. “Ethanol’s growing importance is being felt on Main Streets and more increasingly on Wall Street, and that is a good thing,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “While farmers have been and will continue to be the foundation of this industry, teachers, truck drivers, police officers and all Americans should have the opportunity to invest in our nation’s energy future.”
Comments from Bob Dinneen can be heard here.
Photo courtesy of NASDAQ, where more photos are posted for viewing.
Ethanol Consumption Question
I meant to post this yesterday but just forgot in all the excitement. A question came to mind after seeing the massive alcohol consumption going on Friday:
On race day which consumes more ethanol, the fans or the cars?
Feel free to enter your thoughts.
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Ethanol Wins With Car Out
Lap 152 was not a friendly one to the Ethanol Car today as it went out with damage.
It’s a great looking car and Jeff Simmons has been driving it well today but a finish is not meant to be.
As has been pointed to me though, no matter what car finishes today, ethanol wins since it’s in all the cars this year.
The Race Is On
The race has started. After the first lap we had a two-car accident but no injuries and car #17 is looking good right now. After this post I won’t do any until after the race.
The one thing you like to hear here is the famous words, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.” You can hear it here: 
Start Your Engines (1 min MP3) Post Update: I assumed that Ms Hulman would say “Lady” instead of “Ladies” but we thought it came out plural and after listening to my recording from the stands you can’t really tell. Those around me all thought she said it plural.
I’m also listening in on a radio scanner to the driver/pit communication which is very cool. It sounds like things are going well right now.
Watch here: 
Cars Home Stretch (1 min wmv)
Pit Activity
Steve Dixon is the Team Manager for the Ethanol Car out here in the pits.
I interviewed him before the race to see how he feels about the race.
You can listen to the interview here: Steve Dixon Interview (2 min MP3)
I also wanted you to get a feel for what it looks like in the pit area before the action gets started so here’s a short video clip.
Watch here: Ethanol Car Pit Activity (1 min wmv)
Garage Tour
We’re getting very close to race time here in Indianapolis.
Prior to the start many of the people involved in the ethanol industry received a tour of the Rahal-Letterman garage area. Here they’re gathered around the Ethanol Car getting a lesson.
You can watch a short video clip here: Ethanol Car Garage Demo (2 min wmv)
Jeff Simmons Pep Talk
I know there’s a lot of focus here on Jeff Simmons but hey, he’s the ethanol ambassador of the moment at the greatest spectacle in auto racing.
Last evening Jeff met with a group of the Team Ethanol supporters here. I shot a short video clip for you. He seemed pretty loose for the night before the big race.
We wish him and all the drivers today a very safe day of driving.
Here’s that video: Jeff Simmons (3 min wmv) (FYI: I was shooting still photos with one hand while shooting this video with the other.)
90th Indianapolis 500
Welcome to race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Today we’ll have coverage from the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Earlybirds got to see the sun rise here. It’s promising to be a hot one which should make things interesting. All during the month of practice it’s been very cool. These car engines and drivers will be running in different conditions today than they’re used to.
I’m going to collect more pictures, audio and video with a focus on the ethanol-sponsored Rahal-Letterman team and the #17 Ethanol Car.