As per the new agreement, the IZOD IndyCar Series will continue to utilize sugarcane ethanol to fuel its race cars, including at its signature event, the Indianapolis 500.
The agreement calls for UNICA to cover the cost of approximately 200,000 liters (53,000 gallons) of the 100% fuel-grade ethanol to be used by 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series and the renewable diesel for the fleet of trucks that delivers cars, related gear and fuel for all races. Apart from this, UNICA’s Sugarcane Ethanol brand will be featured at all Indy events.
Sugarcane ethanol will fuel 16 of the 17 IZOD IndyCar Series races in the 2010 season, including the Indianapolis 500. At the inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300, to be run on a street circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the ethanol will be supplied by one of UNICA’s member companies, Copersucar, a sugar, ethanol and bioenergy conglomerate, with 36 associated sugar and ethanol mills in Brazil.
Marcos Jank, president and CEO of UNICA, said: “We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Indy, a global showcase for clean, renewable biofuels since 2007. With sugarcane ethanol, the series is guaranteed the additional plus of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 61% compared to gasoline, as recently recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency.”
