It was with great sadness that I tuned in to today’s Indy Car race and saw the 13th lap multi car wreck and learned that Dan Wheldon was killed. Wow. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a number of these Indy Car racers over the years. You can say all you want about the wisdom of driving a “car” at 220 MPH but they are still people. This brought back memories of Paul Dana in 2006. I liked Dan and certainly took a number of photos of him in the winner’s circle. He was the winner of this year’s Indy 500.
Today’s race was cancelled after this happened. Then the drivers all rode 3 abreast for five laps to honor Dan. This is just a photo of my tv while they were circling the track.
At the time I was working with our sponsor known at that time as the Ethanol Promotion & Information Council (now Growth Energy). Dan won the first race of that season in Homestead, FL. I asked him about racing on ethanol in his post race press conference.
My prayers go out to Dan and his family. It is a shock when something like this happens. I also hope all the other drivers involved in the accident are okay.
Iowa corn farmers who attended the Iowa Corn Indy 250 got an exciting race, a sold out crowd and a nationally televised platform to showcase the performance value of ethanol. Over 2,500 growers were expected to be in attendance. I didn’t speak to all of them but I did speak with several.
These are the people who are investing their hard earned dollars in educational and promotional campaigns like the one with the IRL and Iowa Speedway and it’s good to know what they think. Here’s a basically random selection of quotes from some of the farmers I spoke with at the event. : Iowa Corn Farmers Speak Out
Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, was one of the corn growers attending the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in the photo being interviewed by Ken Root. I took my turn with him afterward.
Bill spent two weeks in Korea and China visiting customers of U.S. farm products. He says they discussed and argued a little bit about pork imports but they certainly will keep buying soybeans and even talked “under their breath” about buying some corn. He says “we’d still love to see more pork and beef going in to china.” On the subject of flooding there are some very devastated areas but the state still has a huge crop in the ground. When it comes to the Iowa Corn Indy 250 he can’t say enough about the exposure the industry receives from the race.
The CEO of the Indy Racing League is Randy Bernard, seen shaking hands with Iowa Corn Growers CEO, Craig Floss, during last weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 activities. I spoke with Randy who says that the League has been working to create a lot more buzz and excitement this year. Judging by the sell out crowd for the Iowa race, things must be working.
I asked him to comment on the relationship with Pioneer and the Iowa Corn Growers. He said, “The fact that we’ve got a great title sponsor here with Iowa Corn Growers and that we run ethanol . . . this is the type of sponsor that we love to be working with because ethanol is a very important part of our business and next year we’re going to E85 to show pump relevancy.”
In an American corn ethanol fueled race at Iowa Speedway, Marco Andretti wins the 2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in Victory Lane with 2nd place finisher Tony Kanaan and 3rd place Scott Dixon.
Following Victory Lane Marco and his Dad, Michael, held the winners press conference. I asked him his thoughts on racing in front of 2,500 corn growers and using fuel they grew. I had just interviewed him two days ago at a local ethanol promotion. He says, “I think it’s great we can be green and still have performance. We’re thankful to have their support. I love this place. Iowa’s great.” Marco Andretti Ethanol Remark
I don’t know if these are future Iowa corn growers, Pioneer sales reps or IndyCar drivers. Whatever it is they’re having fun out here at Iowa Speedway. We’re getting ready for a great Indy race under the lights. The weather looks like it’s going to be okay and we’ve got a sold out crowd.
I’ve been adding some green photos to the photo album so please feel free to visit. I’ll be back on with the winner after the race later this evening before returning home to ZimmComm World Headquarters tomorrow. See you in a while.
Here’s what the hood of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 official pace car looks like. It’s proudly displaying the Pioneer logo as the presenting sponsor.
Todd says the relationship with the Iowa Corn Growers in sponsoring the Iowa Corn Indy 250 has been very beneficial. As he puts it, “It’s a great event for the state of Iowa. It’s great for agriculture.” All of the cars racing this evening will be running on 100% corn ethanol showing how well the fuel performs in an engine. Pioneer brings in a lot of their customers for the event. In fact, I’ve heard that there will be approximately 2,500 farmers at the race track today. I’ll be out on location this afternoon in advance of tonight’s race. Let’s hope the weather improves. Todd Frazier Interview
Yeah. We’re all about ethanol this weekend. Cindy’s boat racing and I’m Indy racing!
Well, the Iowa Corn Growers are going green this weekend at the Iowa Corn Indy 250. In fact, there will be lots of green shirts out here at Iowa Speedway. Here are some of the leadership team that was on hand this morning to talk with the media.
I spoke first with Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher. Dick is also a corn grower. He says that this weekend is special because it’s all about going green. That shows that this renewable fuel is a green fuel. To the naysayers he says, “Ethanol is renewable, good for the Iowa economy and more environmentally friendly.” Dick Gallagher Interview
Next up was Iowa Corn Growers CEO, Craig Floss. Craig agrees with me that the weather is perfect for racing and we hope it stays that way. He says he visited with Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti last night and he was reminded about how much the drivers like ethanol as a fuel for a variety of reasons. Craig Floss Interview
And I also spoke with incoming President for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Kevin Ross. Kevin is from southwest Iowa and says he’s near the flooding area but hasn’t been affected. However, he notes how much that situation is affecting farm families right now and our prayers and thoughts go out to them. From his perspective as a grower the Iowa Corn Indy 250 “it’s been a huge event.” He’s just thrilled with the showcase to promote their product. Kevin Ross Interview
Guess where I’ll be next. Yep. The Iowa Corn Indy 250. This will be my fourth time getting to cover the race. It is the fifth running of the race which is presented by Pioneer. This year the Iowa Corn Growers are making it green in a unique way.
This will be the first Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented under the lights, with the green flag dropping at 8 p.m. and fans are encouraged to participate in the “Green Out”.
Inspired by the environmentally-friendly “green movement”, track officials are encouraging fans to wear green apparel to the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer. Cars will run on 100 percent corn ethanol – which has cleaner emissions and burns more efficiently than other fuel sources – during this race.
“We are excited to once again showcase the power and performance of 100% corn-based ethanol with the Iowa Corn Indy 250,” said Dick Gallagher, a farmer from Washington and chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “We think that it is important for consumers to know we have a renewable fuel source that is grown in Iowa and if 100% corn-based ethanol is good for Indy, than it’s good for consumers.”
I’ll be on location Friday at the track and will have coverage beginning later in the day.
Here’s the whole group of participants at the Iowa Speedway last week doing the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion. You’ve got Iowa State, Indy Car, University of Iowa and Iowa Corn Growers gathered together. The emcees for the program and games that were played included Craig Floss, CEO, Iowa Corn Growers and Bruce Gaarder, former farm broadcaster and one of the announcers at Iowa Speedway. I visited with Craig after the games had ended.
Craig says the main purpose of the event was to promote the Join The Team program. This consist of two main sporting events, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, the two biggest in the state. He says Join The Team is a great metaphor for what they’re all about. He wants Iowa corn growers to be a part of the team that’s not just Iowa Corn but corn growers nationally.
He’s not a sideline kind of guy. At least I don’t think so. He’s Iowa State Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Jackson. He also was not selected to compete in the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team competition at Iowa Speedway last week.
He says he’s disappointed and was “overlooked” since he’s the best athlete on the staff. He says he could have done it all better than the ones selected. But he says it’s all in fun. He still thought it was a special day to be at the event that brought together two universities, Indy Car and Iowa corn growers. You can listen to my interview with Coach Jackson here: Coach Kevin Jackson Interview
I thought you might enjoy that. Hope he doesn’t ever want to try to twist me into a pretzel.
I don’t think he makes his living shooting baskets. He’s Josef Newgarden, Indy Lights driver. He was also one of the competitors at the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion at Iowa Speedway. Josef gets pumped up, about competing and about corn. I think you’ll hear his intensity in my interview with him.
Josef called our event a “prep rally” for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race weekend coming up in June. It will be his first time racing at the track. When it comes to Iowa Corn Growers he says, “Corn growers are cool!” He loves the unique way they are promoting their product.
Former Iowa Hawkeye and NBA basketball player, Ryan Bowen, was a master of the remote controlled cars at the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion at Iowa Speedway. Ryan, who is now the video coordinator for the men’s basketball team, was there to celebrate the recently announced partnership between Iowa’s corn growers and the state’s two major universities in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.
“I don’t think you can think about Iowa and not think about corn, the University of Iowa and Iowa State,” Ryan said in an interview during the fun event, which featured pedal tractors, cornhole toss, corn shucking, remote controlled race cars and more. Ryan, pictured here in the yellow shirt, got his remote car through finish line way ahead of other team!
Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads got competitive during this week’s Iowa Corn Join The Team Promotion at Iowa Speedway. Here he is with his rendition of “Gentlemen, start your engines.” You can hear it in the video I made from the event.
Coach Rhoads says his team gave an “exhaustive effort” at the promotional event. He says the opportunity to get together with corn growers, Indy Car drivers and other university people is “the state of Iowa.” People get excited about these opportunities. You can listen to my interview with Coach Rhoads here: Coach Paul Rhoads Interview
Pedal tractor racing, corn shucking, cornhole toss. They make for a fun team event and that’s what the Iowa Corn Growers did along with Indy car drivers and representatives from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. I was shooting still photos but also caught some of the action on video. Craig Floss, CEO, Iowa Corn Growers, introduces the team and guides them through the events. I hope you enjoy it.
Yesterday I posted the picture of Indy car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay getting the green flag in a pedal tractor race with Dick Gallagher, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman. Here’s Ryan getting the checkered flag. I’ll see him race in the upcoming Iowa Corn Indy 250 at a speed somewhat higher than was exhibited in this tractor race and spoke with him after the day’s competition was over.
Ryan says the corn growers competition was a lot of fun. He loves coming to Iowa and working for the corn growers. You may remember that Ryan drove the Ethanol Car for some time, including here at the Iowa Speedway. You can listen to my interview with Ryan here: Ryan Hunter-Reay Interview
The Iowa Corn Growers got competitive with Indy today at the Iowa Speedway. In the photo Indy car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay competes on pedal tractors with Dick Gallagher, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman. Waving the green flag to start is Shannon Textor, Iowa Corn Growers Market Development Director.
Today was a promotional event that included Indy Car drivers, Iowa corn growers and representatives from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. It was all done to promote the upcoming Iowa Corn Indy 250 race and their Join The Team program. They paired up into teams and ran through a course of various events that included the pedal tractors, cornhole toss, corn shucking, remote controlled race cars and more. We held the event inside the garages because some rain moved through. Farmers in this area were actually happy to have some rain.
I spoke with Kevin Rempp, Iowa corn grower and currently Secretary/Treasurer for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He says that the promotion with the Iowa Speedway and Indy has been a great partnership. Iowa corn growers are also to be working with the universities involved and are doing so through their Iowa Corn Fed program and their new commitment to the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Kevin says he got all his corn in the ground last week!
By the way, Ryan beat Dick in the pedal tractor race just in case you were wondering. I’ll have more to come after getting back to ZimmComm New Media World Headquarters this evening.
Tomorrow I’ll be on location at the Iowa Speedway for an advance promotion for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. There are teams that will be competing made up of Indy Car drivers, media, Iowa corn growers, Iowa Speedway folks and coaches from Iowa and Iowa State.
That’s about all I know right now. But by sometime tomorrow afternoon we’ll both know more and you can count on pictures and more. This ought to be interesting!
Happy holiday from ZimmComm. I hope everyone is enjoying a little time off before getting back to work. In this week’s program I’d like to introduce you to the man who is Indy photography. He’s Ron McQueeny, Indy Racing League, Director of Photography. That’s Ron in the picture providing pre-race direction to all of us photographers who were shooting the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
I’ve had the luck to be an accredited photographer at quite a few Indy races and Ron was one of the first people I met. After I realized I was not equipped to shoot cars going 200 mph he gave me some advice on equipment and shooting tips that proved to be invaluable. Ron has been working in photography with Indy for a long time and in our discussion you’ll hear him talk about how he got his start. I think it’s good inspiration for anyone interested in a career of professional photography.
The reason you see Ron giving pre-race directions to photographers is because of the serious nature of the job. It is a dangerous one and the goal is to minimize danger while still getting the shots needed. If you’ve wondered what it’s like to shoot race cars then give this program a listen.
For me, one of the best parts of our discussion was a story Ron tells about working with Paul Dana, Indy Car driver who was killed in a pre-race accident in March, 2006. I got to know Paul who is credited with making ethanol the fuel of the IRL. Ron was asked by Paul to shoot some photos that were used in the effort to bring home grown fuel to the League.
One of the cool things to do at an Indy race is tour the garages where the technicians work on the engines in preparation of race day. The Iowa Corn Growers conducted multiple tours of the garages during race weekend for the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
I followed one group and interviewed several grower participants.
First up was Tim Recker, Iowa Corn Growers Association Director from Fayette County. He came out to the track to see the “power and performance of ethanol powered vehicles.” Like other corn growers I’ve spoken with, he has a feeling of pride to see the cars running on American made ethanol from the corn he produces.
Next up was Dean Taylor, President-Elect, Iowa Corn Growers Association. Dean said that everything was going fine and it was a great event. He says the race is getting the message out about what ethanol is. He says fuel security is going to become increasingly important.
Finally, I interviewed Roger Zylstra, Iowa Corn Growers Association Director, Jasper County. Since he serves on the animal ag and environment committee I asked him about the importance of animal agriculture to corn growers. He says the livestock industry is very important to Iowa corn growers. You’ll hear some of the cars being tuned up in our conversation.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
It was with great sadness that I tuned in to today’s Indy Car race and saw the 13th lap multi car wreck and learned that Dan Wheldon was killed. Wow. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a number of these Indy Car racers over the years. You can say all you want about the wisdom of driving a “car” at 220 MPH but they are still people. This brought back memories of Paul Dana in 2006. I liked Dan and certainly took a number of photos of him in the winner’s circle. He was the winner of this year’s Indy 500.
Here’s a photo of Dan in the winner’s circle in at the 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300.
Happy holiday from ZimmComm. I hope everyone is enjoying a little time off before getting back to work. In this week’s program I’d like to introduce you to the man who is Indy photography. He’s Ron McQueeny, 
I’ve had the luck to be an accredited photographer at quite a few Indy races and Ron was one of the first people I met. After I realized I was not equipped to shoot cars going 200 mph he gave me some advice on equipment and shooting tips that proved to be invaluable. Ron has been working in photography with Indy for a long time and in our discussion you’ll hear him talk about how he got his start. I think it’s good inspiration for anyone interested in a career of professional photography.
One of the cool things to do at an Indy race is tour the garages where the technicians work on the engines in preparation of race day. The 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
