SPEEDWAY, IN --
The ethanol legacy will live on with the Indy Racing League (IRL). Rahal Letterman Racing, one of the
leading open-wheel race teams in North America, announced yesterday the
selection of Jeff Simmons as the driver for the No. 17 Team Ethanol
Honda/Panoz/Firestone car. Simmons will replace Paul Dana who died in a
practice accident March 26.
Dana was a tireless promoter of ethanol and the architect of the
agreement that switched all IndyCar Series cars to a 10 percent ethanol,
90 percent methanol blend this year. In 2007, the IRL will make the switch
to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in all IndyCar Series cars. E10 (10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) is the fuel blend used by drivers
all across the country in everything from minivans to lawnmowers.
Increasingly, E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) is also
available in many areas throughout the country.
"Paul realized the benefits of using ethanol, and he worked hard to get
the message out to everyone," said Ethanol Promotion and Information
Council (EPIC) Executive Director Tom Slunecka. "We look forward to Jeff
promoting the benefits of ethanol just as proudly as Paul did."
Simmons, a native of East Granby, CT, is the winningest driver in
IRL Indy Pro Series (IPS) history with seven victories. He has garnered
extensive experience in the IPS, having run four seasons and twice
finishing as the championship runner-up -- in 2003 and 2005.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to promote the message and need
for the clean-burning, renewable fuel ethanol and to become a member of
Rahal Letterman Racing," said Simmons, 29. "It is one of the most
professional teams I could ever hope to be associated with, and I truly
appreciate the faith that Bobby (Rahal) and the Team Ethanol sponsors have
placed in me. The fact that I have this opportunity as a result of Paul's
passing is not lost on me, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to
his family and friends.
"I believe the best way for me to honor him is to do everything I can
to carry on the cause in which Paul believed so deeply," said Simmons. Like
Dana, Simmons has been a part of the racing industry for many years,
working his way up through the ranks.
Car engines operating on fuel enriched with ethanol have demonstrated
excellent performance due to the fuel's high octane content. Fuel with
higher octane contains more oxygen, which helps fuel to burn cleaner and
causes less pollution.
"The transition between methanol and ethanol in our cars has been very
smooth‚" said Phil Casey‚ IRL senior technical director. "Our cars don't
sound differently, smell differently or run differently than they have in
the past. It's been a seamless transition."
Team Ethanol is comprised of the Broin Companies, Fagen Inc., ICM and
25 other companies who have joined together in a voluntary industry-wide
coalition that represents over half of the industry. Ethanol is a
high-octane, high-performance fuel that is clean burning, renewable and
made in America. As a growing component of the U.S. gasoline supply,
ethanol delivers improved vehicle performance for all passenger cars and
trucks while reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality.
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) is an alliance of
ethanol producers and industry leaders who have come together to spread the
word about the benefits of ethanol through information and promotional
programs. Visit www.drivingethanol.org for more information about EPIC.
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