| Brent Dewar, General Motors' Vice-President of | | | | Proponents of ethanol are very honest in saying |
| field sales, service and parts while working for | | | | that despite numerous advantages that the |
| General Motors in Brazil in the 1990s got to | | | | ethanol fuel can offer it is not a magic wand |
| experience the country's successful switch from | | | | saying that it is not as efficient as gasoline. But |
| oil-based economy to ethanol. Dewar hopes to | | | | with the ever increasing danger of global warming |
| see the same changes to happen in the United | | | | caused by harmful car emissions, efficiency has |
| States and he believes that NASCAR can help. He | | | | become a trivial issue. The important thing is to |
| is urging officials to consider ethanol as an | | | | save the environment. However, continuous study |
| alternative fuel solution. | | | | and research are conducted to make the ethanol |
| According to Dewar, "We would embrace it. We | | | | as efficient as gasoline. |
| think it would be great on a lot of fronts, because | | | | "I think the global-warming thing, and all the things |
| obviously it would send a signal to the public. A lot | | | | that are written about that, a lot more people are |
| of people don't understand the benefits of | | | | aware of the fact that we do need to do |
| ethanol." | | | | something," said Petty. |
| The use of renewable fuels are already employed | | | | Most American cars run on 90 percent fuel and |
| by other racing series like for instance the Indy | | | | 10 percent ethanol blends, in order to function on |
| Racing League's IndyCar Series will race on 100 | | | | heavier blends of ethanol, cars have to be |
| percent ethanol similarly the American LeMans | | | | specially equipped for it. According to Dewar, |
| Series will race on a 10 percent ethanol blend. | | | | technological innovations can help in decreasing the |
| And today NASCAR has also expressed its desire | | | | price of ethanol. At present, the ethanol used in |
| to give ethanol a try. Driver Kyle Petty said that | | | | the US is derived from corn while the ethanol |
| NASCAR's marketing power might drive | | | | used in Brazil came from sugar cane. There are |
| alternative fuels into the mainstream to help | | | | some research findings that show certain kinds of |
| consumers forget the image of hippies terrorizing | | | | grass and even wood chips proving a much |
| them by putting vegetable oil in their 1980s | | | | better source for ethanol. Researchers are also |
| Mercedes. "I think once you start seeing | | | | working to develop enzymes that would break |
| alternative fuels show up in places like racing and | | | | down waste products into ethanol. Dewar said |
| places where you least expects them, then you | | | | that in five years time we should expect cars to |
| think about that guy with the Volkswagen van | | | | literally run on recycled garbage fuel. |
| that runs off of whatever," added Petty. | | | | It is inspiring to see that the world's largest |
| NASCAR is once again taking the first step | | | | automaker and maker of popular car accessories |
| towards the direction of environmental | | | | like GM car covers, General Motors--- is so |
| responsibility by taking the lead in utilizing ethanol | | | | passionate in its goal to help the environment. |
| similar to what it did in the 1980s when it | | | | Does this mean that we will be seeing more |
| switches from using leaded to unleaded fuel. | | | | green GM cars in the future? |