Rain, No Rain and Rain Again

Chuck Zimmerman

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: indy-07-start-engines.mp3

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

Ethanol, Indy Racing

An Indy Weather Issue

Chuck Zimmerman

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: indy-07-jeff-reception.mp3 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

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Sampling Some Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

e-tini timeI think this is an agricultural story since this man is holding something that contains ethanol and fruit juice. That works right? One of the inventions of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (Joanna Schroeder) is the “e”-tini, a very colorful martini. Actually there are 3 different ones and I’ll have to update this post to provide the details on them.

This is our bartender at the EPIC member reception last night who was very animated and enjoyed making a new drink. Prior to the reception we had him practice and did a little quality control to make sure they were just right.

It’s a fun idea that ties right into the whole idea of promoting a renewable fuel.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Indy Racing

Podcasts From Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

iDairyI picked up a card while at the Alltech International Feed Industry Symposium this week and didn’t really even look at it until this morning while I was playing a little catch up here in my hotel room. It’s a direct mail piece for Alltech’s Bioplex and their podcasts! They’re producing them to target specific animal species producers and they’re called iDairy, iPoultry and iSwine.

Each podcast focuses on Bioplex mineral nutrition and animal health (dairy, swine and poultry). It looks like an ongoing project since they say that besides the current episodes that are available they will be discussing global issues in each area with renowned experts in animal nutrition.

The aim of the Bioplex Podcast is to communicate and reach all involved in the production of profitable agriculture. Through these series of Podcasts will be discussing the challenges and issues facing the industry and the role that Bioplex organic trace minerals have in providing practical solutions to these challenges.

Tune in as we review topics which affect producers in their daily business and listen to the advice of world renowned experts in their chosen fields as they provide practical and profitable solutions to these challenges.

Bioplex Podcasting bridges the distance between industry, research and producers by providing a platform in which we can create a global community, naturally.

Agribusiness, Podcasts

Interview With Tonya Dana

Chuck Zimmerman

Tonya DanaYou may remember the tragedy that occurred last year at the first IndyCar race when Paul Dana was killed in a pre-race crash. I had conducted his last media interview prior to that. I finally had a chance to do a short interview with his wife, Tonya here in Indy. Paul is the man who worked so hard to bring the ethanol and racing industries together. He was the driver of the #17 Ethanol Car prior to Jeff Simmons. This year’s running of the Indy 500 with all the cars fueled with ethanol is the fulfillment of his dream.

Tonya is pictured here outside the Rahal-Letterman Racing hospitality suite. I was impressed with how strong she seems to be. It has to take courage to come out here in light of what happened to Paul. Tonya says that the support she’s received from friends in the ethanol industry and the IRL has been tremendous. She does see this year’s race as the fulfillment of Paul’s dream and she says she’s ready to help the ethanol industry in any way she can.

You can listen to my interview with Tonya Dana here: indy-07-tonya.mp3

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Wyffels Picks Hondo Group

Chuck Zimmerman

The Hondo GroupIt looks like The Hondo Group is moving forward quickly in its development by landing a great new client.

Wyffels Hybrids, one of the nation’s largest independent hybrid seed corn companies, announced today the selection of The Hondo Group as its new agency of record.” The agency was selected by the executive and senior management teams at Wyffels following an extensive national search.

“Wyffels Hybrids has some exciting opportunities coming in the next 18 months and we look forward to working with The Hondo Group to help us deliver them to the market,” said Mark Risley, Marketing Director of Wyffels Hybrids. “With their dedication, industry knowledge and passion for our business, we know they will be the perfect partner for Wyffels.”

The Hondo Group will be responsible for providing strategic marketing communications services and integrated sales support to Wyffels Hybrids. The account will be under the direction of Vice President, Kim Jones, who manages The Hondo Group’s Midwestern office based in Darlington, Wisconsin.

Agencies, Agribusiness, Seed

Joining AARWBA

Chuck Zimmerman

Helio CastronevesI’ve been covering enough IRL races for EPIC that I decided to join the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association. Actually president Dusty Brandel talked me into it.

This morning Laura and I attended their annual awards breakfast. Helio Castroneves (right), the Indy 500 pole winner joined us for a short question and answer session. He was very upbeat and like all of us, hopes the weather cooperates tomorrow.

One of the members at the podium will be covering his 63rd consecutive Indy 500. That’s amazing. That would be like me saying someday that I’m covering my 63rd Commodity Classic or something like that. Who knows? It could happen.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Indy Racing

The e is Everywhere

Chuck Zimmerman

Ethanol Golf CartThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has been promoting the “e” as the brand for ethanol. So if you’re going to brand something you slap that baby everywhere you can.

In this case even on a funny looking little golf cart. The cart is being driven by EPIC director of marketing, Reece Nanfito. Waving at me is Laura McNamara.

At the time of this photo they were going to drive through the crowd to the Kid Rock concert. Me I headed on back to my hotel for a little bit of relaxation before the Rahal-Letterman Racing media dinner which was held at Mo’s in downtown Indianapolis.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Indy Racing

Ethanol Car in Practice at Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Simmons in PracticeIt’s Miller Lite Carb day here at the Brickyard. Let’s just say that after looking at the fans it’s safe to say that not all the ethanol being poured here is going into cars.

This morning the Indy cars got an hour of practice in. I got here just in time to see them pull into the pits. Traffic was a nightmare getting here from our hotel.

Here’s Jeff Simmons, my main man, coming in off his practice laps. Everyone looks all smiles and I hope they are by Sunday afternoon as well.

During the day today I’ve been taking some pictures for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council as well as meeting with and interviewing representatives of some of their member companies.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Ethanol, Indy Racing

The Truth About Ethanol and Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

Patron CarWe got to the Scott Sharp Patron party a little late yesterday but we did sample a very good margarita. I think this is a sharp looking car don’t you?

I noticed a guest editorial on Dean Kleckner’s Truth About Trade and Technology website that I think sums up the feelings of a lot of farmers this weekend. It’s written by Tim Recker, a corn/soybean grower from Iowa.

A guy with my last name probably shouldn’t go anywhere near the sport of auto racing.

Yet I can hardly wait until one o’clock on Sunday, May 27 when the Indy 500 is scheduled to begin. Just about every corn farmer I know is equally excited.

Drivers will compete to win the 91st running of the Indy 500. And for the first time ever, their vehicles will be powered by corn: They’re using 100-percent fuel-grade ethanol.

If ethanol is good enough for the most famous auto race in the world, shouldn’t it also be good enough for your commute to work? Granted, you may not need to drive 219 miles per hour–the qualifying time of the slowest car in the Indy 500’s 33-vehicle field–unless you hit the snooze bar a few too many times.

Still, there’s no reason why ordinary motorists shouldn’t demand outstanding fuel performance from a quality product such as ethanol.

Well said Tim.

2007 Indy 500 Photo Album

Ag Groups, Ethanol, Indy Racing