The multi-year deal names APEX-Brasil an official partner of the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis 500, which includes cooperation from UNICA (the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association) to identify those interested in supplying ethanol to the series. Initially, UNICA will look to partner with a US-based ethanol company to supply the IndyCar Series with corn-based ethanol.

The move to other sources of ethanol is a natural progression as the ethanol industry continues to grow and evolve. We continue to strive to be on the leading edge of the greening of racing. The IndyCar Series was the first motorsports series to mandate use of a renewable fuel, and now we will work with the ethanol industry in both the United States and Brazil to promote the use of all types of ethanol by consumers.

During our recent manufacturer roundtables, the participating engine companies were enthusiastic about our potential use of various sources of ethanol. We feel this move is another step in the right direction with our goal of introducing a new engine and chassis by the 2011 season.

—Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division of the Indy Racing League

In 2007, the governments of the United States and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bio-fuels with particular aim at consolidating ethanol as a global commodity. Jointly, the US and Brazil produce in excess of 75% of the world’s ethanol output. Both countries are committed to ethanol development at a global level.

The IndyCar Series first embraced a renewable fuel in 2006, requiring all of its competitors to use a blend of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol, in preparation to move to 100% fuel-grade ethanol in 2007. The IndyCar Series will continue to use 100% fuel-grade ethanol in 2009, which is denatured with 2 percent gasoline.

From a technical standpoint, the move to any raw material-based ethanol does not change anything for the IndyCar Series. The end product is still 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol, and our engine mappings and ECUs will continue to read and process it exactly the same.

—Les Mactaggart, senior technical director for the IndyCar Series