(posted on 11-17-08 after the IndyCar Series announced they would be using Brazilian made ethanol to fuel their cars starting in 2009.)
-boomberblaste
The Indy Racing League will use Brazilian ethanol in the 2009 season.
IRL President Terry Angstadt signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian agency promoting biofuels on Monday, securing a supply of the alternative, agriculture-based fuel for all 23 races next year.
The announcement was made by Brazilian Presidential chief of staff Dilma Rousseff at the start of a five-day international conference on biofuels in Brazil.
The IRL has been racing with 100 percent ethanol fuel since 2007.
With the deal, Brazilian producers will supply part of the nearly 454,200 litres of ethanol used in the IRL season. The exact amount was not specified.
In exchange, Brazilian ethanol and other products will be promoted during the races.
"The (deal) is part of the strategy to promote the Brazilian biofuel as a clean and sustainable energy," said Alessandro Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
Ethanol burns cleaner and produces better mileage, even though it results in less horsepower in the IRL cars.
Brazil is the second largest ethanol producer in the world after the United States, and is the largest exporter of the fuel.
Sugarcane-based ethanol is cheaper to produce than the corn-based ethanol made in the United States.
© AP 2008
-Haydenfan
23 races my ass! More like 18 at the most.
-Southpilot
This should be marvelous PR for anyone who hates the IRL and wants to turn the entire nation against them. I mean every man, woman and child in this country is against using foreign sources of fuel right now. Bwahahahhahahaha. What was all that Tony used to say?? All-american teams, all-american-drivers and all-american series??? I bet there is a printer making the "Indianapastan 500" banners printed up as we speak.
-chitwncartfreak
So I guess that means the Iowa race is out?? How would that look racing in the middle of an Iowa cornfield with Brazillian-made fuel.
Honestly, does ANYONE at the .1RL office have any common sense whatsoever? Normally, this would be a PR nightmare except for the small fact that nobody cares about the .1RL.
-scorpion
I used to believe death by suicide was quick, and maybe painless. Crap has the .irk proved me wrong. One slow knife cut after another and yet the pig still lives. Does anyone know an executioner for hire? Can we please get this over with once and for all?
-paper
so ya got an Italian car, brazilian fuel, foreign ride buyers, in the salavation of American grass roots oval guys,,,,, maybe we had the " grass" part mistaken to mean something else?
-joetanto
Wow. So FTG picks a product that will never has been or will be allowed in the US. I would laugh, but laughing won't bring CC back. Actually it just makes me more depressed to think that the Firl outlasted CC.
Remember as well that Helio was hiding money for one of Brazil's biggest sugar cane ethanol producers.(allegedly)
-frenzy88
I think this is called cross promotion, boy that .1rl braintrust is right on the ball. I picture PSAs with Helio from prison showing on VS during yellow flag periods.
-slowmotion
I don't see the problem .... who cares about irl anyway?
In it's present state that "league" is about as interesting as navel fluff ...
-MDH
and just when you thought they had gotten just about as stupid as stupid could get...............................
The 0.01rL....proving once again............"You can't fix stupid"
I can see it now............
The Stranded In Iowa Corn Pon Two-Fitty
Powered by Brazillionaire Sugar Cane Growers
-TheAngryDwarf
Wait for the race in Brazil next year, to supplant one of the mighty ovals.
Now Earl is going to extoll the virtues of their international expansion.
How can any gomers buy into this?
-RenegadeX
Helio will be in jail / not driving for Pimpski so let me be the first to predict that TONY KANAAN *from Brazil* will be the 2009 Crapwagon Champion.
It ain't going to be Moraes, it ain't going to be Junqueira, it ain't going to be Camara, it ain't going to be Meira, it ain't going to be Bernoldi (even if he has a seat), and it ain't going to be RafaMat. So that leaves K-Nose as the obvious choice to 'get the call'.
holy fock there's a lot of stupid Brazilians!
-Ronbo
Bottom line is that ethanol makes lousy fuel, and in the US, it is a big reason that food prices are climbing.
The reason for all of this can be nothing more than the idiot grandson needs foreign cash. He has failed to impress anybody here, and is running out of paying partners.
-boomerblaste
So what does the average American union worker know about corn based ethanol: it can damage your car and it's the cause for the price increase of food. Fits nicely with the promotion of earl.
-PhilipT631
The is sweet...TG just threw Rahole under the bus....Here is Rahole is hand delivered Enthanol to the IRL, major sponsor for Rahole and the IRL and now FTG threw Rahole under the bus.
FTG has screwed FKK by telling Aussiland to go bye bye and now Rahole....so which former Champcar team is FTG after now...quite frankly I hope it's Carl Haas....well I guess FTG already has by not allowing Haas to be the Dallara parts distributor....
I just wish that Jerry would pull the LBGP minutes before practice just like Dale Coyne used to announce his drivers minutes before the start of practice. Better yet withold the funds to the IRL for some breach of contract.
I'm in for the IRL to go under before the end of the 2010 season.
