Indy.jpgIndy Racing League is in the process of switching all Indy Cars to 100 percent corn-based ethanol. When the Indy Racing League season got under way last year in Florida, the open-wheel racecars were topped off with ethanol, which is corn-based, instead of methanol, a fossil fuel derived from natural gas.
The notion that the fuel consumed on the racetrack should be more closely related to that from service-station pumps is not far-fetched; after all, automakers have long tried to convince customers that racing improves the breed.
“At one point, motorsports could take the lead in regards to a lot of technology that would trickle down to the everyday street car,” said Bobby Rahal, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 champion.
“Today, the technology of everyday cars is more sophisticated,” said Mr. Rahal, who is a partner with David Letterman in teams that race in the IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series. “This is an opportunity for motorsports to provide value to the automotive industry.”
