GM Plans To Petition NASCAR To Switch To Ethanol

General Motors Planning To Ask NASCAR To Switch To Ethanol Fuel

GM later this year “plans to file a formal petition asking that [NASCAR] join other racing series with a switch to ethanol to power its vehicles,” according to Lisa Zagaroli of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. GM, which sponsors 22 Nextel Cup cars under its Chevy brand, has been “promoting more environmentally friendly fuel for months, but now it plans to move forward with an official presentation to NASCAR ownership.” NASCAR Dir of Business Communications Andrew Giangola said, “Until they come to us with a proposal and some ideas, it would be premature to comment.” Giangola added NASCAR’s current position “is to have a smaller fuel cell in the car for safety reasons. Ethanol would require cars to carry much larger fuel cells or pit three times as often. There’s a competition and safety element to the decision.” GM North America VP/Field Sales, Services & Parts Brent Dewar indicated that “another hurdle might be that Toyota ... doesn’t have an ethanol vehicle in the marketplace yet.” Zagaroli noted the IRL converted to ethanol this year, the Le Mans Series runs on E10, a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gas, and F1 has “promised a change in the next couple of years” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/5).