Ethanol in Racing

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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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What great timing... I'm opening this thread as the IndyCar Series is done racing the Ethanol Indy 300 presented by XM Satellite Radio from Homestead. This is all projected as the future fuel of not only racing, but also for street usage. environmentally-friendly racing has been around for much longer than now. Remember the Panoz Q9? It was a purple car that had a hybrid engine. A Toyota Prius (first-generation) was in a rally race before. The Nasamax crew was the first team to use biodegradable fuel at Le Mans, all the way to a great finish. There's been a competitor who used biodiesel at the punishing 24 Hours at the Nürburgring (while I will cover for the first time on GTPlanet later this year). Now it's all about ethanol. The IndyCar Series seen every car race 100% ethanol in a great race around Homestead.

What do you think holds in the future for ethanol in other motorsports? Let's say NASCAR or USAC looks into fueling their cars with ethanol or some other environmentally-friendly fuel? Maybe think about if the AMA road racing series (Superbike, Xtreme, Supersport, etc.). Would this work there?

This thread is open for discussion about the possible future of ethanol in racing applications. Comment at will.
 
JohnBM01
Remember the Panoz Q9? It was a purple car that had a hybrid engine.
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You mean this one? :D
normal_2006_Petit_LeMans_184.jpg


What do you think holds in the future for ethanol in other motorsports?
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I don't know. I think that ethanol, like hybrids, is a publicity generating half step that only slows progression towards a true alternative fuel. Or as I keep reading more of, hybrids are actually a backward step. Ethanol can't be used everyday by everyone for various reasons, so putting it in racing is merely a publicity stunt to quiet the environmentalists. I think diesel would be a better direction for racing to go as an ecological move until a permanent non-oil replacement is found. But diesel has a bad PR problem.

That said, I don't care what fuel they use so long as it doesn't change the race by producing less speed/power, increased engine wear, or make it too expensive for smaller teams. I just wish they would do it for reasons other than to generate PR. Instead of trying to quiet the environmentalists I wish they would just tell them to shut up and go away. I have yet to hear a fan of any racing series say they were boycotting it because it does environmental damage.
 
Yep. That's the Panoz Q9. Anyone else want to share their thoughts on this matter?
 
Foolkiller, you're missing the biggest reason that the move to Ethanol in the IRL is total bunk.

INDY RAN FREAKING METHANOL - WOOD ALCOHOL!!!

A different source of "bio" alcohol is just that, a different source. In fact, guess what......

Every Open Wheel Short Track Sanction from Cali to Canada Has Run Methanol Since the Late 40's

USAC, ISMA, World of Outlaws, All Star Circuit of Champions, DIRT Modifieds, CRA, WSSRL, HOSS, AVSS. All of 'em.

Alcohol as racing fuel? Feh. Nothing new to American Open Wheel. Quite frankly, it turns my stomach to hear these jackholes thumping the ethanol bible when all they did was ferment and distill corn instead of wood.
 
Yes, I know. But we can't go killing off trees for fuel, can we? then the tree-huggers would have nothing to hug....

Please, think of the tree-huggers.
 
So Layla's Keeper, you don't possibly see this sort of alternative fuel used in something like the NASCAR, NHRA, or even the GARRA?
 
Layla's Keeper
Foolkiller, you're missing the biggest reason that the move to Ethanol in the IRL is total bunk.

INDY RAN FREAKING METHANOL - WOOD ALCOHOL!!!
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I didn't think about that. So it really is just a PR move. Next they'll start dropping hybrids in that only kick in at the start and coming off of cautions.



I can't believe more people haven't said anything about this. Did I run off all the environmentalists on GTP with my opening statement?
 
Not if I don't try to bring any back, FoolKiller. Anyhow, anyone else want to shed some light on this deal?
 

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