Rahal Letterman Racing Embracing Its Role In Spreading The Ethanol Message

Rahal Letterman Racing Embracing Its Role In Spreading The Ethanol Message

Mar 02, 2007

Rahal Letterman Racing has always maintained a high profile in the Indy car racing world. That attention and high profile has come with having won championships and the Indianapolis 500. It has come with having high-profile drivers such as Bobby Rahal, Kenny Brack, Buddy Rice and Danica Patrick, and it has come with having a ownership duo that is comprised of a Hall of Fame racer in Rahal and an American television icon who happens to be one of the country’s most avid motorsports enthusiasts, David Letterman.

As Rahal Letterman Racing moves into the 2007 season, the team’s role as Team Ethanol is pushing it to the forefront of the national debate on the benefits of ethanol-enhanced fuel. Rahal Letterman Racing and the IndyCar Series’ use of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol have created a number of national media stories, including a recent appearance by President George W. Bush with the No. 17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol Honda/Dallara/Firestone in North Carolina.

In February, Bobby Rahal was the keynote speaker at the Renewable Fuel Association’s National Ethanol Conference in Tucson, Ariz. In addressing the crowd of more than 2,000 that attended the annual event, Rahal spoke of the responsibility that everyone associated with the ethanol industry shares—the task of spreading the message. Rahal underscored the significance of the ethanol industry’s partnership with the IndyCar Series and Rahal Letterman Racing.

“The ethanol partnership with IndyCar has been a sound strategic decision, ” Rahal said. “Open-wheel racing has always been the most technologically advanced form of racing in North American motorsports, and the sport has always prided itself on being in the forefront of automotive innovation. From early automotive innovations like the rear-view mirror to recent safety innovations like the SAFER Barrier, the willingness of the sport to embrace the future technologies has been well-documented. Thus the IndyCar Series is the perfect live case study to showcase that ethanol is in fact a high-performance fuel. After all if (Rahal Letterman Racing drivers) Jeff Simmons and Scott Sharp can turn laps at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen running on ethanol, then surely the fuel is effective and sufficient to pilot your mini-van to the mall, the market and back. ”

No one at Rahal Letterman Racing has worked harder in the last year spreading the message of ethanol than Simmons, driver of the Team Ethanol entry. For Simmons, the last year has been a blur as he has adjusted to stepping up to the IndyCar Series from the Indy Pro Series and as he acclimated himself to being one of the most visible spokesmen for the ethanol industry.

“When I became the Team Ethanol driver, I assumed the legacy that Paul Dana had established, ” said Simmons. “The passion of the ethanol industry to make a difference in the energy needs of our country is amazing. The fact is we can make that difference in our country’s energy consumption and still benefit the environment with a clean-burning, renewable fuel all while utilizing a high performance fuel as an added bonus. There have been a lot of exciting opportunities that have come our way, but nothing will compare with what will happen here in the next few months when the IndyCar Series starts the 2007 season running 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and then at Indy when the entire 33-car field runs on ethanol. To be part of motorsports history is thrilling, but to be so closely involved with ethanol and to realize what this means in the bigger picture is unbelievable. ”

The message is being spread by the rest of Rahal Letterman Racing’s staff as well. At the recent IndyCar Series test at Daytona, four documentary crews followed the Team Ethanol and Patrón Tequila entries compiling features on ethanol and its use in the IndyCar Series. Frequently Rahal Letterman Racing engineers have been called on to discuss the series move to ethanol and the benefits of the renewable fuel source.

“While we at Rahal Letterman Racing run the ‘Team Ethanol’ entry in the IndyCar Series, the reality is everyone associated with the ethanol industry is who really comprises Team Ethanol, ” Rahal said. “Everyone working in some capacity with ethanol is carrying the cause of this wonderful product. When I talk about ethanol, a high-performance, environmentally friendly, domestically produced energy source, it is hard to fathom, in this day and age with the issues that face our country, that there could be opposition, but as you know all to well there is always opposition to change. It is up to each member of Team Ethanol to do their part to spread the word and the virtues of ethanol. ”