Category Archives: EPIC

Off to Chicagoland

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Team Ethanol IndyCar Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay Those of you who’ve been keeping up to speed with the Indy Racing League know that the league is rounding out its 2007 season at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL this weekend. I’m here at the track covering the close of a landmark year for Team Ethanol and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. All IndyCars have been running on 100% ethanol fuel throughout the season. It’ll be interesting to see how the league, Epic and the IndyCar drivers finish up the the first fully-powered ethanol season.

If you want to keep track of my coverage you can find it on domesticfuel.com.

Thursday EPIC held another ethanol pump promotion to educate consumers about E10 and E85 ethanol fuel blends. Team Ethanol’s new IndyCar Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay greeted consumers at Gas City in Joliet and doled out autographs and even a couple of race day tickets.

You can listen to my interview with Ryan here:

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Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 Photo Album

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EPIC at NAMA Boot Camp

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NAMA Boot Camp“Marketing at Top Speed” was the lesson presented to agrimarketers at the NAMA Boot Camp Thursday in Kansas City by Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Tom Slunecka. He educated the participants to become “ethanol evangelists” because of the important role ethanol is playing today in the entire agricultural industry.

EPIC is one of ZimmComm’s dearest clients (we love all of our clients!) so we sponsored Tom’s presentation at Boot Camp. After his talk, Tom had about a dozen mini Team Ethanol Indy Car replicas to give away so I came up with a list of questions for the participants to answer and win one of the cars. Most of the questions were pretty easy – like what kind of car can run on 10 percent ethanol? (Answer: virtually any car made after 1980) The one that stumped most everyone until somebody looked it up in the handout materials was – about how many vehicles on the road today are “flex-fuel” or capable of running on up to 85 percent ethanol? The answer is 6 million.

Member Website Training

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EPICIt’s another road warrior day as Cindy and I move our youngest to college. That means some light posting until tomorrow.

Yesterday was a little light too because much of it was spent doing website training at the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council offices. We re-built their member website recently and Elizabeth, Joanna and I finally found time to all be together in one room at the same time. Their member website is continuing to develop but it’s a great example of what you can do with a WordPress blog site.

By the time we were done I had compiled a list of about 10 new features and changes we’re going to be incorporating into the site. The site already allows EPIC to update it very easily and frequently without having to contract an outside firm and pay big bucks to make simple changes. Now that they’re all up to date on how to post, etc. I’m sue we’ll see even more regular fresh content for members to read (and subscribe to).

Growing Fuel For Indy Cars

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Show CarGrowers attending the Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA might have wished they could drive this car but they were content to grow the fuel that’s powering it around the track this season. The #17 Rahal Letterman show car was accompanied by Al Jentz, Amaizing Energy. Al is also on the board of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council which manages the promotion of the car. He gave an overview of how things are going in the ethanol industry for the growers and retailers who were attending.

Al JentzAl says that although he felt like he was preaching to the choir his presentation allowed corn growers to learn more about EPIC’s promotional activities and ask questions.

He also felt like he got to learn more about what Syngenta is doing to develop corn varieties that will make the ethanol production process more efficient.

Syngenta is also a member of EPIC.

You can listen to my interview with Al here:

Listen to

Or you can download the interview using this link: Listen to MP3 Al Jentz Interview (4 min MP3)

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

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Ethanol Powering IndyCars and Choppers

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ZimmCast-125 - Iowa Corn Indy 250After spending another week on the road at the world’s largest tailgate party of corn growers, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 you get a ZimmCast about ethanol.

This week’s program starts out with an EPIC update from executive director, Tom Slunecka which we did in the media center at Iowa Speedway. Then you can hear what the Indycars sound like when they blow by you at 180 mph. I recorded that while I was shooting through the cutout in the outside track perimeter fence. What you’ll hear is from the cars only a couple of feet away on the other side of the barrier. Since they’re running on 100% ethanol I think they’ve totally answered any questions there are about the fuel’s performance value.

Next up you can listen to the introduction of the first ever chopper built to run on E85. This is a collaborative effort by Iowa Farm Bureau and Orange County Choppers. One of the OCC dudes did a ceremonial lap on it prior to the race.

The program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network and a band called moisture fuel. The song is “Collide.” I think it’s appropriate since we’re talking fuel and there were a lot of collisions at the race on Sunday. Be ready to rock.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 125 (20 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

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The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes.

Dario Franchitti Wins Iowa Corn Indy 250

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Dario and Iowa Corn GrowersMy man Jeff Simmons had a rough day, getting knocked out of the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Ethanol. He was doing so well too! Anyway, once again ethanol wins and this was a big event for the industry.

The winner is Dario Franchitti. He was a survivor out there because it was a brutal race of attrition after multiple accidents.

Dario is here in Victory Lane with members of the Iowa Corn Growers.

This has been a very busy week here in Iowa and you can find more stories and interviews over on Domestic Fuel. I’ve got about 240 of the 1,000 pictures I took in my online photo album. I hope you enjoy them.

I’m heading on home and get a nice week of home office time before heading to Oklahoma on July 4th. You’ll learn more about that this week.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

IA Corn Indy 250 Race Day

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Senator InterviewsWelcome to race day here at the Iowa Speedway as we near the start of the Iowa Corn Indy 250, Presented by Ethanol.

To get things started we had a press conference titled, “Ethanol: Fueling Our Future” which was coordinated by the Iowa Corn Growers Association. On hand were Iowa’s state senators, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin. Also on the program was IA Lt. Governor, Patty Judge, IA Sec. of Ag, Bill Northey, Peter Hemken, DuPont VP, Bob Bowman, ICGA president and Kyle Phillips, ICPB Chairman. Here’s WHO farm dude Ken Root doing a post-conference interview.

I did not get to attend the conference but thanks to Tim Hoskins, IA Farmer Today, I have the full audio of the press conference for you to listen to. Right now the dignitaries are touring the garages.

Here’s this morning’s press conference:

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Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

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Important IndyCar Driver Work

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Jeff Simmons Signing AutographsIt has been a long day at the track here in Newton, IA for the lead up to the Iowa Corn Indy 250. I’ve updated my photo album and am calling it quits for the night since we’ve got to be back out at the track early.

This is what an IndyCar driver does a lot of. It’s Jeff Simmons doing an autograph session after an Iowa Corn Growers/EPIC reception at the track this afternoon.

The Rahal-Letterman team did very good today. Scott Sharp in the Patron car qualified for 4th place in the starting lineup with a speed of 181.713 mph and Jeff Simmons in the Ethanol car qualified 6th with a speed of 181.527 mph which is his highest qualifying position ever! This is a tight field with only the slightest fractions of a second separating the top qualifiers.

You can watch the race live on ABC at 12pm central time.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

ICGA and EPIC Very Happy With Iowa IRL Race

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Field LogoThe logo for the Iowa Indy Corn 250, presented by Ethanol is very cool. It really looks good on the lawn in between the track and the pits here at Iowa Speedway.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association has been instrumental in making this race a reality here in Newton, IA. One of the corn growers here who’s very excited about what’s taking place is ICGA president-elect, Tim Recker. I interviewed Tim after he and other ICGA leaders unveiled the trophy for this weekend’s race. He says that the Iowa corn growers saw this race as an opportunity to really promote ethanol nationally and especially showcase all the work being done in Iowa to develop this renewable fuel resource. You can listen to my interview with Tim here:

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Jeff Simmons in practiceThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is also very involved in the promotion of this race, working very closely with organizations like the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Pioneer Hi-Bred. EPIC’s executive director Tom Slunecka was in the media center this afternoon. Tom was happy. And if Tom’s happy, I’m happy (EPIC is the founding and primary sponsor of our sister site, Domestic Fuel).

I got him to sit down for a minute and talk about how he thinks it’s going. He’s just as excited about this race as all the corn growers I’ve spoken with this week. He says that the work EPIC has been doing to create a brand that consumers are aware of and trust is really paying off and venues like this race as well as all the IRL races have been key to showcasing the performance value of ethanol.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here:

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Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

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Getting Pitty With It

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Ethanol Car in PracticeThese representatives of the Iowa Corn Growers were getting in some pit practice action this afternoon. Jeff Simmons, driver of the #17 Ethanol car for Rahal-Letterman Racing got his first laps on this track this afternoon. He’s peeling out of his pit behind them.

He just got done dialing in the computer settings with his team in advance of what looks like some stormy weather moving in.

I’m glad these drivers got their practice in because there’s not much time left before Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250. They’ll do qualifying tomorrow.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

ICGA Press Conference and Race Trophy

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Iowa Corn Growers Press ConferenceThe first press conference of the day was the unveiling of the trophy for Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250.

It’s a tall good looking trophy.

The group show here consists of several board members and CEO, Craig Floss, speaking on the left.

Craig made a short statement which you can listen to here:

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Iowa Corn Growers Press ConferenceHere’s some of the reasons why the Iowa Corn Growers is involved and supporting this inaugural race:

• Promote renewable fuels

• Give general consumers information about ethanol, specifically E85 market

• Indy Racing League (IRL) is running on 100% ethanol in the 2007 season

• Celebrating 30 years of the Iowa corn checkoff and the success of the ethanol industry we’ve worked so hard to build in the state.

• Iowa is the leader in corn and ethanol production and we are working to be the leader in renewable fuel usage.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

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Pioneer’s Russ Sanders Talks About Ethanol and Indy

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Russ Sanders, Pioneer Hi-BredOne of the people attending the ethanol pump promotion in West Des Moines was Pioneer Hi-Bred Marketing Director for Quality Traits, Russ Sanders. I interviewed Russ as things were heating up (quite literally) at this Kum & Go facility.

Here’s Russ posing next to the #17 Indy Ethanol car which Pioneer is a sponsor of this year.

Russ says that Pioneer is working hard on new corn traits that will be more productive in the ethanol production process while also creating a more nutritious animal feed component from the by-products of the ethanol production process. He says it’s a time for American corn growers to be proud Pioneer Hi-Bred - Toledo, IA Plantof what they are accomplishing in helping our country become more independent of foreign oil while helping create a cleaner environment.

He also says that Pioneer will have several hundred of their customers here at the race this weekend.

Pioneer has a plant in Toledo, IA which is right near where I’m staying on this trip. I just happened to be driving by it last night on the way back from Des Moines.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Promoting Ethanol in Iowa

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Kum & Go PromotionIt’s ethanol promotion time in Iowa and things are in full gear starting with this afternoon’s pump promotion at the Kum & Go in West Des Moines. I’ll be off to one taking place at a HyVee right near here (I’m working in Panera Bread at the moment) in just a little while.

I got a few laughs today in describing this weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 as possibly the biggest tailgate party of corn growers in history. I’m hearing estimates of thousands of corn growers who will actually be attending Sunday’s sold out race.

I’ve got some interviews and lots of pictures which are being posted into an online photo album as usual. Feel free to visit often.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

It’s Another Ethanol and Indy Week (Iowa)

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Iowa Corn IndyThis is just a little heads up that I’ll be off to Newton, IA this week to cover the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here’s a little promo you can listen to (mp3). The race is being sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and is being “presented” by Ethanol.

This new race on the IRL schedule should be a corn farmer’s dream. High performance engines cranking out the rpm’s on pure ethanol fuel which is mostly made from corn these days. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is sponsoring my coverage and I’ll be cross posting here and on Domestic Fuel starting on Thursday.

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Ethanol and Dario Franchitti Win The Indy 500

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Dario FranchittiFinally, the race is over and ethanol wins again. Actually the winner of the Indy 500 is Dario Franchitti seen waving at me as he passes the media center. At the post-race press conference, he seemed like the most amazed guy in the world for having run and we certainly congratulate him.

During the press conference I asked him how he felt about winning by burning a renewable fuel in his car and how it performed. He has no problem with ethanol. In fact, he said it helped him get better gas mileage and that was beneficial in the end.

Listen to Dario talk about ethanol here:

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The race was shortened by rain and called after 166 laps. I heard several drivers saying they just couldn’t get into a normal race flow and that’s too bad but I guess it’s just the way it is. They’ll be racing again in another week. I’ll be attending two more races this season so count on some more IRL action on AgWired.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Don’t forget to check out my online photo album which Laura McNamara and I have contributed to during this past week and have a great holiday.

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The Race Is On Again

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Jeff Simmons Cranking It UpThe track got dried out so we’re back to racing here in Indianapolis. However, rain is on the way again.

Jeff Simmons in the ethanol car has been running very strong today. It looks like the race will be won on strategy and pit stop timing since the cars are pretty much out of sync with their normal plan.

I’ll try to be in victory lane and the winner’s press conference after the race and will bring you the finale as we see ethanol win no matter which car comes across the finish line first.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

David Letterman Appearance

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Chuck and David LettermanFor the first time in my 3 years at the Indianapolis 500 I got to see the other half of the Rahal-Letterman Racing ownership. Here’s David Letterman on the track prior to the race talking with his partner Bobby Rahal.

I just happened to be in the right place but I had my hands full of camera and couldn’t get my recorder out to try to do an impromptu interview. Thanks to a Rahal-Letterman team member for taking the shot for me.

This has been an interesting day so far. We’re going to get the race re-started here soon and then we’ll see what happens. In any case, ethanol will win the Indy 500!

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Rain, No Rain and Rain Again

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Green FlagThe weather held out for a start and a pretty good race up to lap 113 which means it’s an official race.

Here’s Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning waving the green “e” flag to start the race here this afternoon.

I’ve posted the audio of the start for you each of the last couple years and this year is now different. In the following audio file you’ll hear the most famous words in automobile racing and the sound of these high powered engines as they crank it up.

Listen to the start of the race:

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Right now Tony Kanaan is in first place and that looks like it will stand up. The ethanol car driven by Jeff Simmons led one lap and his car was running great today. I’ll have more after the winner is officially announced.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

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An Indy Weather Issue

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Indy RainThe big story here in Indianapolis this morning has been the weather. It’s lightly raining now and the trucks are running the track to try to keep as much water off it as possible. You can’t race on a wet track.

We’re hoping for some clearing today and will stay here as long as we can to cover the 91st running of the “greatest spectacle in racing.” Some of the regular morning activities have at least been postponed temporarily so I guess we’ll sit tight with everyone else and see what happens.

In the meantime here’s some audio for you from last night’s reception when Jeff Simmons, IndyCar driver of the Team Ethanol Car spoke.

Jeff says that the story is how far ethanol has come and where things are at with the industry. He got involved right after Paul Dana’s untimely death last year and has had the opportunity to learn a lot about the fuel and especially how it performs in an engine. Like other drivers have been saying in the IRL and other leagues that are now experimenting with ethanol, he says they get better gas mileage and no loss of performance. I’m not an engineer but it appears that an engine that’s tuned to run properly on ethanol will not perform worse when it comes to mileage than regular gas. I’m sure that this would be the case in consumer model cars as well. In fact, I’m betting we’ll see this happen as the fuel and industry continues to develop and works with the auto manufacturers on this issue.

You can listen to Jeff’s remarks here:

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Jeff is introduced by EPIC executive director Tom Slunecka and answers a few questions at the end of his remarks which are about 7 minutes long.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

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