The 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.
This 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.
Troy 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.
At 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.
It 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
In 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.
I’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.
Now 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.
I 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.
Sacha 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.
It looks like Paul McKellips, Global Outreach Officer, US Embassy Baghdad, The Green Room – Public Affairs GO Team, is going to get a little rest and relaxation after his latest posting into Iraq. Here’s his final report.
You can listen to his last audio report here.
In this report he asks some Iraqi’s that he’s been working with 4 questions: four-questions.mp3
Dear Friends,
Today is Day 47 of my 45 day assignment (government math) and this is the last radio report I’ll be filing from the Independent Radio & Television Network outside of Ba’qubah in Diyala Province in Iraq. Sunday we officially launch our radio station as our UHF TV station finally goes on the air with their first ever “live” news show, including a Farm Report segment. Our listening audience is estimated at 11 million Iraqis.
As IRTN moves forward I’d ask you to consider promoting their website (www.IRTNiraq.com
Last night I sat down with Rafed (Shia) and Samir (Sunni) and asked them four questions. The interview runs just under 5-minutes and it’s uncut. I asked them what they thought about 9/11. I asked what they thought about President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair. I asked them if they were glad that the Coalition Forces removed Saddam Hussein from power. And I asked them what they’d say to the mothers and fathers of nearly 3,200 Americans who have died on Iraqi soil for their freedom. Read More
