ETHANOL LEGACY TO LIVE ON AT INDY
04 April 2006 - Ethanol

Jeff Simmons to Drive for Team Ethanol in Place of the Late Paul Dana

The ethanol legacy will live on with the Indy Racing League(R) (IRL). Rahal Letterman Racing, one of the leading open-wheel race teams in North America, announced today the selection of Jeff Simmons as the driver for the No. 17 Team Ethanol Honda/Panoz/Firestone car. Simmons will replace Paul Dana who died in a practice accident March 26.

Dana was a tireless promoter of ethanol and the architect of the agreement that switched all IndyCar(R) Series cars to a 10 percent ethanol, 90 percent methanol blend this year. In 2007, the IRL will make the switch to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in all IndyCar Series cars. E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) is the fuel blend used by drivers all across the country in everything from minivans to lawnmowers. Increasingly, E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) is also available in many areas throughout the country.

''Paul realized the benefits of using ethanol, and he worked hard to get the message out to everyone,'' said Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) Executive Director Tom Slunecka. ''We look forward to Jeff promoting the benefits of ethanol just as proudly as Paul did.''

Simmons, a native of East Granby, Conn., is the winningest driver in IRL Indy Pro Series (IPS) history with seven victories. He has garnered extensive experience in the IPS, having run four seasons and twice finishing as the championship runner-up -- in 2003 and 2005.

''I am honored to have the opportunity to promote the message and need for the clean-burning, renewable fuel ethanol and to become a member of Rahal Letterman Racing,'' said Simmons, 29. ''It is one of the most professional teams I could ever hope to be associated with, and I truly appreciate the faith that Bobby (Rahal) and the Team Ethanol sponsors have placed in me. The fact that I have this opportunity as a result of Paul''s passing is not lost on me, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

''I believe the best way for me to honor him is to do everything I can to carry on the cause in which Paul believed so deeply,'' said Simmons. Like Dana, Simmons has been a part of the racing industry for many years, working his way up through the ranks.

Car engines operating on fuel enriched with ethanol have demonstrated excellent performance due to the fuel''s high octane content. Fuel with higher octane contains more oxygen, which helps fuel to burn cleaner and causes less pollution.

''The transition between methanol and ethanol in our cars has been very smooth,'' said Phil Casey, IRL senior technical director. ''Our cars don''t sound differently, smell differently or run differently than they have in the past. It''s been a seamless transition.''

Team Ethanol is comprised of the Broin Companies, Fagen Inc., ICM and 25 other companies who have joined together in a voluntary industry-wide coalition that represents over half of the industry. Ethanol is a high-octane, high-performance fuel that is clean burning, renewable and made in America. As a growing component of the U.S. gasoline supply, ethanol delivers improved vehicle performance for all passenger cars and trucks while reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality.

About EPIC

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) is an alliance of ethanol producers and industry leaders who have come together to spread the word about the benefits of ethanol through information and promotional programs. EPIC is a nonprofit organization and is overseen by a seven-member board of directors. Visit http://www.drivingethanol.org/ for more information about EPIC.

www.drivingethanol.org

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