Dan Wheldon & Ethanol Win Race

Chuck Zimmerman

Dan WheldonWell, my man Jeff Simmons may not have won the race but ethanol still came out a big winner. Did any of you watch the ESPN coverage? I’ve heard that they spent lots of time talking about the fuel.

Here’s the winner of the first Indy car race of the year, Dan Wheldon. It’s the third time in a row that Dan has won the race. He did it in dominating fashion too and afterward said it was a lot of fun running the race.

I recorded the press conference with Dan afterward and was able to ask him how he felt about racing with 100% ethanol. He said that Honda deserves a lot of credit but that any time you can do something to help the environment, it’s a “good thing.”

You can listen to the whole press conference here: Listen to MP3 Dan Wheldon Press Conference (10 min MP3)

Or you can just listen to my Q&A with Dan: Listen to MP3 Dan Wheldon About Ethanol (15 sec MP3)

Audio, Ethanol

Ethanol Car Has A Short Night

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Simmons and FianceThe Team Ethanol car driven by Jeff Simmons is out of the race after what looked like a slide coming out of a turn which turned the car around and then two other cars crashed into it. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt. Jeff is seen here with his fiance just prior to the race.

I’m going to stick it out though since no matter who wins tonight, ethanol will be the winner.

Remember to check out my XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Photo Album.

Ethanol

The Ethanol Green Flag

Chuck Zimmerman

Green E FlagThis year the IRL is giving new meaning to the “green flag.” The official green flag has the ethanol logo.

I was in the pits at the start to take this shot. It’s the best of my bunch. If you want to see all of them don’t forget to check out my photo album. I’m also posting more frequently on our Domestic Fuel site.

The race started just a little over an hour delayed. Jeff Simmons in the Ethanol Car has been running very well and moved up several positions from his start. As of this post he’s in 14th.

Ethanol

Troy Price New VP of Sales For New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Troy PriceTroy Price has been named to a newly created position of Vice President of Sales to oversee the New Holland North American sales organization.

In that position, he is responsible for promoting sales growth and increased profitability of the North America market, directly managing the sales team. He will report to Lorenzo Sistino, President of New Holland worldwide, and will be based in New Holland, Penna.

Price most recently served as Vice President of North American Sales and Marketing for CNH Capital’s agricultural and construction sales and marketing finance operations. Before joining CNH Capital, he was Vice President of Energy Rentals for General Electric Company’s North American Operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Indiana State University. Price was raised on an Indiana family farm his grandfather began in 1927. He and his brother now jointly manage the corn and soybean operation.

Sistino also announced that, on an interim basis, he would personally assume the responsibilities of David P. Clarke, former Vice President of New Holland Agricultural Business in North America, who is pursuing other opportunities.

Agribusiness, New Holland

Ethanol Car Leaving The Pits

Chuck Zimmerman

Media TentAt the moment it’s cool inside the overflow media tent which where I got assigned to. My little spot is right in front on the end of the table. It was the last place open when I got here yesterday. You can’t escape the word ethanol here as the logo is everywhere and it’s on the “suggested stories” list handed out to all media.

Here’s an update on how things are going with the Ethanol Car. After last night’s qualifying session the car’s time was disqualified due to failing a post qualification technical inspection. This happened to both Jeff Simmons in the #17 car and Scott Sharp in car #8. Both are Rahal-Letterman Racing entries. This means that Scott will start the race this evening in the #19 position and Jeff in the #20 position. Tough break but hopefully they’ll overcome it during the race.

Just to stoke up a little excitement I thought I’d share a short YouTube video with you of the Ethanol Car heading out of the pits to take practice laps.

Ethanol, Video

Interview With Ethanol Car Driver Jeff Simmons

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Simmons HelmetIt has been a hot sunny afternoon in south Florida. Fortunately the Indy cars get to do qualifying for race start position tonight under race time conditions since the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 is a night race tomorrow. Jeff Simmons has a new helmet this year which I think is pretty cool looking.

This afternoon I caught up to Jeff at the Rahal-Letterman hospitality area and interviewed him to get his thoughts on running a race that Paul Dana didn’t get to run last year. As you may recall it was just a year ago that Paul Dana was killed in practice prior to this race when it was run on Sunday. I had conducted the last media interview with Paul the evening before. So for some of us, Jeff included, this is an emotional race. As you’ll hear him say, he’s got to put that behind him and focus on racing.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here (4 min MP3): homestead-07-simmons.mp3

Audio, Ethanol

XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Time

Chuck Zimmerman

XM Satellite Radio Indy 300In case you’re wondering where I am, I am in Homestead, FL. Yesterday was travel day. So here I am just as the practice laps are completed at the Miami-Homestead Speedway the day before the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300. That’ll take place tomorrow evening at 8pm eastern time and you can see it on ESPN2.

I’m getting ready to attend a Rahal-Letterman press conference in a few minutes where I’ll get a chance to interview Jeff Simmons and find out how the car’s running today. This is the kickoff of the IRL season and I’m looking forward to it.

Team Ethanol Car on a Practice LapI’ve started a photo album for the event which already has quite a few photo in it. You can find it here: XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 Photo Album

This is the first time these cars will be competing using 100% ethanol for fuel. In his practice today Jeff Simmons in the #17 Ethanol Car clocked a 209.302MPH on his 9th practice lap which puts him in position 15 for the practice best times today. Dan Wheldon in Car #10 was fastest with a speed of 213.014.

I’ll have a lot more over the next couple days so stay tuned. Just for clarity’s sake, I’m working with coverage sponsor, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Ethanol

Farm Aid Spring e-Cards

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Aid e-CardsNow that it’s spring Farm Aid wants you to send someone you know an e-Card. I’ll tell you what, these Farm Aid people have the social media thing going pretty good. I’d love to see this from more organizations.

We’re excited to celebrate spring with our second annual e-card campaign. Please spread the joy of spring by sending a Farm Aid e-card to your friends and family.

Here’s where you can find them.

Ag Groups

Jim Dickrell Moves Up At Dairy Today

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim DickrellI can’t wait until I celebrate 17 years of editing AgWired. Way to go Jim.

Jim Dickrell, long-time editor of DAIRY TODAY, has been promoted to Associate Publisher. In his new position, Dickrell will work closely with Farm Journal Media Livestock Group Publisher Bill Newham in the development and execution of information products targeting the dairy industry. In addition to his new responsibilities he will continue serving as editor of DAIRY TODAY and ELITE PRODUCER magazines. Dickrell, a 17-year veteran of Farm Journal Media, was named editor of Dairy Today in 1989 and has since been the prime force in directing its success. In 2001, he was instrumental in the creation and launch of ELITE PRODUCER, a demographic insert into DAIRY TODAY.

Dairy, Publication

Sacha Is Canadia Creative For O&B

Chuck Zimmerman

Sacha Lai-SvirkSacha Lai-Svirk is now the Creative Director for Osborn & Barr Canada.

In this role, she will be responsible for managing creative strategy and execution for the agency’s blue chip client list.

“Sacha is a huge asset to our creative team agency-wide,” said Joe Osborn, president, Osborn & Barr Communications. “Her signature is work that involves the audience both emotionally and intellectually. It’s very compelling and persuasive. She has a real talent for taking complex technical messages and turning them into understandable and desirable sales propositions.”

Before joining O&B, Lai-Svirk was a senior art director at Marketforce in Cambridge, and was central to the agency’s work on Bayer, Eli Lilly and Allergan, including Web design, print and television advertising and collateral. Prior to that, she spent 10 years with Quarry Integrated Communications where her duties exposed her to all aspects of marketing communications for clients such as BASF, Advanta Seeds and Elanco Animal Health.

Agencies