ETHANOL FUEL ADVANTAGES DEMONSTRATED IN THE INDY 500

I worked with Tom MacDonald from April to August 2007. He has a long track record at the California Energy Commission with fuel ethanol, with knowledge about "the many energy, environmental, health and safety, and economic advantages of alcohol fuels".

MacDonald Associates continues to apply a long career experience working with alcohol fuels in California to analyzing and documenting the broader national and international potential and benefits of alcohol fuels. As another example... Today’s Indy 500, won by Brazilian driver Helio Castroneves, adds more dramatic evidence of the safety-related advantages of alcohol fuels. Graphic footage seen by worldwide audiences of the major pit fire experienced by the #14 AJ Foyt Racing team and driver Vitor Meira (also a Brazilian) illustrates several of the important differences between alcohol fuels and petroleum-based fuels that weigh heavily in favor of alcohols – further validating the selection of alcohol fuels for Indy racing following the explosive gasoline-fuel crash that claimed drivers Eddie Sachs and Dave McDonald in the 1964 500. First and foremost, today’s pit fire sequence shows the fire-fighting advantage of alcohol fuels, an advantage that should be recognized and duly appreciated by everyone involved with fuel-related fire safety. The use of water application to quickly extinguish this fire, ALLOWING THE CAR AND DRIVER TO RESUME THE RACE, would clearly not have been possible if the car had been gasoline-fueled! Secondly, the lower volatility/explosivity and lesser heat release associated with ethanol was another important factor in minimizing and containing this fire and preventing injury to the driver, the pit crew and others nearby. While the fire briefly engulfed the entire vehicle and the driver, the lesser energy release and the rapidity with which the crew was able to extinguish the fire avoided a much more serious incident that would likely have resulted from a similar mishap with gasoline. The distinct visibility of the above fire, even on the television screen in broad daylight, was also noteworthy given past safety issues involving the lower flame luminosity of alcohol fuels. The fact that the fire was instantly so visible is strong evidence that lower flame luminosity may not be as much of a concern for ethanol-fueled fires as has previously been suggested for alcohol fuels. The above incident – and various other crash sequences in today’s Indy 500 coverage – add to an accumulating body of evidence with ethanol’s use for racing fuel that, if properly assembled and utilized, can offer a compelling testimonial to the safety-related advantages of alcohol motor fuels. MacDonald Associates remains available to assist the ethanol industry and other ethanol stakeholders in efforts to better define and report on the many energy, environmental, health and safety, and economic advantages of alcohol fuels, and to help correct the misunderstandings and erroneous stories that typically affect public policy and popular views on these fuels.

Tom MacDonald MacDonald Associates Independent Transportation Energy Consultants (and California Energy Commission – retired) Sausalito California USA (916) 529-6582

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