Promotion of Ethanol

Explosion in Illinois

When the Indy Racing League changed to ethanol as its fuel, it was due much in part to the efforts of now-deceased IndyCar driver Paul Dana. Use of ethanol, first as a small percentage of engine fuel and then as the only fuel, became an important selling point for the league as a supporter of American commerce. Understandably, the switch from American ethanol to ethanol produced by a Brazilian company led to a brouhaha of sorts before the 2009 race season began. The ensuing schedule prevented the change from becoming a huge issue—except for Rahal Letterman Racing and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

The Iowa Corn Indy 250 in Newton has traditionally been a platform to promote ethanol and American agriculture. The president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association gave the starting command before this year’s 250-lap race. He noted the drivers were turning over “corn-fed ethanol engines”.

However, prior to the race in not-so-far-away Rockford, IL, a train derailed and an explosion of the railcar contents—ethanol—resulted in a death. A woman sitting in her car at the railroad crossing was killed in the explosion. Others in the car were reported to have run from the scene to safety.

One of the positives noted by the IRL about the switch to straight ethanol last year was that the fuel was safer than methanol. The ability to fight a methanol fire is hampered by not being able to readily see it. Conversely, recall the pit fire that Vitor Meira endured at the Indy 500; flames were very much visible.

The explosion in Illinois, however, reiterates that mishandling of ethanol and accidents involving the fuel can be very dangerous. Although easier to see and react to, the fact is that ethanol fires, too, can be life-threatening for participants and bystanders.

Should the ICGA president have gone ahead with his promotion of ethanol in the starting command with the recent death? Should he have promoted another consumer product? Or simply promoted American-grown corn?