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)
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)
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.)
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.
There are a lot of ethanol supporters here in Indianapolis and more arriving by the minute as we get closer to race day.
This fine looking group consists of staff and board members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council along with various other industry members.
They all went downtown to the parade today and will get together again this evening for a reception. Then tomorrow we’ll all be out at the track cheering on Team Ethanol!
Today has been a relatively quiet day here in Indianapolis. Except for the annual parade that is.
Here’s Ethanol Car driver Jeff Simmons passing by (along with Stephanie Soviar). The drivers are spaced out in the parade in the same row lineup as they will be in the race. Jeff is starting in row 9.
You can watch a short video clip from the parade here: Jeff Simmons In Parade (1 min wmv)
On my way out of the track today I stopped by the Chevrolet exhibit area. It’s huge. They’ve got pace car Corvettes from past races on display and a selection of AFV’s as well.
One of the things they also have is a stage for music. This band was playing and I shot a video clip of them for you.
You can watch it here: Chevrolet Stage Band (2 min wmv)
One of the highlight events on Carb Day here at Indy is the Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Competition.
Rahal-Letterman driver Buddy Rice was doing fine until he came up against Helio Castroneves, who won the competition.
I shot a short video clip of one of the final competition matches. You can watch it here: Pit Stop Competition (23 sec wmv)
The big announcement from MFA Oil and Mid Missouri Energy was made this morning as we reported earlier this week. Pictured are members of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, along with Phil Lampert (NEVC), Ryland Utlaut (Mid-Missouri Energy) and Jerry Taylor (MFA Oil) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the launch of the partnership.
Thanks to the folks at the Missouri Corn Growers Association we’ve got some audio for you. Tyne Morgan interviewed MFA Oil President, Jerry Taylor. He talks about what the company is doing to increase the availability and accessability of E85 fuel around the state of Missouri. You can listen to that interview here: Jerry Taylor Interview (5 min MP3)
Representatives from two farmer-owner cooperatives have announced a partnership created to make E85 fuel more readily available and affordable to Missourians by offering it at 20 percent less than regular unleaded gasoline. E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline and is used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).Read More
Here’s a little tidbit of information I just learned of.
Bob Dineen, the President of Renewable Fuels Association will preside over the opening bell of the NASDAQ Stock Market to “recognize the rapidly growing US Ethanol Industry.”
It’s scheduled to take place on Tuesday May 30th, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. EDT
