Ethanol powers the IndyCar® Series
The IndyCar® Series was the first motorsports league to sanction a renewable fuel. In March 2007, under the lights of Miami, 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol's debut met with great success among drivers, consumers and media. The move to ethanol makes the IndyCar® Series the motorsports leader in using a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel, and fits with the Indy Racing League's long tradition of innovation in technology and safety. Many of the league's innovations are eventually incorporated into passenger vehicle design, benefiting drivers everywhere.
"Our decision to switch the IndyCar Series over to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol was a reflection of our confidence in ethanol's performance capabilities. The 2007 season proved that our confidence was not misplaced. Ethanol performed flawlessly from the first lap of preseason testing to the checkered flag at the season finale."
Les Mactaggart
Senior Technical Director
IndyCar Series
It's official. In what's been called "the most significant fuel change in recent history," the IndyCar® Series is the first in auto racing to power its cars with 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. Already known for technical leadership and innovation, the IndyCar Series uses this renewable, environmentally friendly fuel - safely and effectively - in some of racing's fastest competitions. At the highest level of auto racing, ethanol has been proven to be safer and faster. How did all this come about? "Survival of the fastest." Here's the evolution of the ethanol-IndyCar Series partnership:
2005 - Ethanol becomes IndyCar Series team sponsor.
2006 - Ethanol organizations work with league to introduce ethanol-methanol blend.
2007 - The IndyCar Series introduces 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol.
2008 - Because of the success and savings seen in 2007, IndyCar Series continues its use of 100% ethanol in all race cars.
from field to food to fuel: LifeLine Foods
 LifeLine Foods in St. Joseph, Mo. is the first facility in the United States to use corn to produce both food and fuel. The company's corn products, such as corn meal and snack meal, are used in breakfast cereals, tortillas and snack foods. In the past, the underutilized portions of the kernel would have been turned into livestock feed. Today, LifeLine Foods is now capable of extracting fuel ethanol, replacing fossil fuels for its own consumption and still feeding livestock but with a higher quality animal feed from the same portions of the kernel.
Here's how a typical corn kernel breaks out:
Approximately 82.9 percent endosperm (the hard and soft starchy inside of the kernel).
Approximately 11 percent germ (the enzymes, oil, vitamins and minerals that are surrounded by the endosperm).
Approximately 6.1 percent of pericarp (hull) and tip cap (point of attachment to cob).
After separation of these parts, the germ is processed and sold for its oil content and the pericarp and tip cap are burned to produce steam that reduces LifeLine Food's need for fossil fuels by almost 50 percent.
LifeLine utilizes the endosperm of the corn kernel, which represents 82.9 percent of the whole kernel, for food production first, then sends the remainder to its ethanol plant for processing. In addition to ethanol, this process also creates dried distillers grains (DDGs) and syrup for live stock consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2).
To find out more, visit: www.lifeline-foods.com
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