Ethanol Poised for its Close-Up as America Watches
Written by Allan Brewer · March 2, 2007
Indy Racing League Leads in Alternative Fuel Matchup
by Allan Brewer
allan@fastmachines.com
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Photo: Allan Brewer
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The Indy Racing League makes a high-profile billboard for corn-based Ethanol to strut its stuff in front of the racing public. With growing emphasis from the White House, the biodegradable fuel holds promise as an alternative to foreign oil and other petroleum products as a source of fuel for America. The critics, however, say there’s little to say but “What if” at this point, as the industry tries to keep apace of a goal of 35 billion gallons of fuel-grade corn syrup a year by the end of another decade.
It’s the year of the pig to our Chinese neighbors but the 2007 Indy Racing League season brings the year of the corn-fed Honda V-8.
The IRL becomes with its Homestead/Miami opener the first racing series to embrace one hundred percent ethanol fuel as its sole power source. The corn-based, biodegradable liquid has been used in part during various automotive sports in racing history, such as drag racing and boat and plane racing, but this is its first solo performance at open-wheel speed.
Introduction of the fuel accompanies the move to a higher displacement of 3.5 litres in the Honda racing engines that are specified for each team. The increase in size of the engines followed evaluation of the hotter-burning ethanol’s impact on the previous 3.0 liter power-plant to achieve power comparable to methanol, the traditional fuel used in the cars.
Performance reports so far have been positive from the drivers who will ask the fuel to take them to speeds in excess of 240 mph at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.
“The IndyCar Series jump to ethanol has been great,” said Tony Kanaan, the 2004 series champion. “We are definitely on the right path with it. There is more power with the new engine.”
Kanaan’s enthusiasm for the fuel carries over to the street, where he predicts the fuel will help promote a cleaner environment
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5 Responses to “Ethanol Poised for its Close-Up as America Watches”
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How would it be to divert the soil bank payments to subsidize the production of corn for automotive uses?
Maybe the government should stop subsidizing tobacco and switch to corn. That way we could reduce pollution and cancer at the same time.
The IRL shift is nice PR but that’s all it is.
Same can be said for Bush’s plans for ethanol, good PR and not much else.
Many point to Brazil and it’s total switch to ethanol, but for the most part they fail to tell you they use sugar based ethanol not corn based.
The politicos in the US have been forced down the road by the corn-belt Senators and they will rue the day when they did.
Notice the price of corn lately?
Notice the 75,000 Mexicans protesting in the streets of Mexico City over the price of CORN tortillas?
You can thank the expanding use of corn ethanol.
So why isn’t more prominent in automotive gas and bio-diesel fuel?!
Ethanol would come down in price if it was nade from hemp (the industrial marijuana plant) instead of corn. Ostensbly the only thing preventing more ethanol use in the U.S. is hemp prohibition. Screw the prohibitionists. Let freedom ring.