Following FIA Max Mosley's recent warning that Formula One may have to be canned in the wake of any future fuel crisis, and US president George Bush's criticism that 'America is addicted to oil', the IRL Indycar Series has taken time to reinforce its decision to make changes to the way its cars are powered. source: crash.net "The best way to break this addiction is through technology," Bush continued in his sixth State of the Union address on 31 January, before pointing out that ethanol can play an important role in America's energy future. The IRL series, which enters its eleventh season on 26 March, has already made the switch to an ethanol-methanol blend to power its Honda engines in 2006, and will turn to 100 per cent fuel-grade ethanol for 2007, and ethanol industry officials hope that fuelling Indycars will eventually translate into an increase in motor manufacturers producing 'flexible fuel vehicles' in the future. "The Indycar Series always has been recognised for its technical leadership in automobile racing, and now it is the industry's leader in renewable and environmentally responsible energy," claimed president and COO Brian Barnhart, "We are proud to partner the ethanol industry to showcase a great American fuel source, as we feel a commitment to the environment and our country's energy security is consistent with our sport's legacy of race-bred innovation and leadership." Transition from methanol to 100 per cent fuel-grade ethanol over the next two seasons should have no significant technical barriers, and the fans will not notice a change, as speed and horsepower will remain the same. Better fuel mileage is just a happy by-product of the change and, using the ethanol blend during the first open test of the season, four drivers bettered last year's pole speed at Phoenix International Raceway.
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