Profile of a Patriot

Through the Lugar Energy Patriot, Senator Lugar profiles a student, professional, scholar, or member of the business community who has demonstrated leadership and initiative in taking concrete action to improve America's energy security. In addition to the profile posted here, individuals will receive a certificate designating them Lugar Energy Patriots, and a letter of congratulations.

Tony George
President and CEO, Hulman & Co.
President, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
CEO and Founder, Indy Racing League

On May 27, when the familiar call of “Gentleman start your engines” marks the start of the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500, there will be something different fueling the roar of race cars around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Beginning this year, every IndyCar Series’ (ICS) open-wheel race car will be powered on 100 percent ethanol.

The switch is thanks to Tony George, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and Indy Racing League CEO and Founder, whose leadership consistently puts ICS on the cutting edge of automobile technology and now America’s efforts to become energy independent.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a long history of innovation,” Tony said.  “Ethanol powered race cars are the latest example.  We are pleased that the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series are contributing to energy independence.”

“Tony George’s decision to power IndyCar Series cars on ethanol at venues such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway signals to the American public that ethanol is a premier, high performance fuel.  It has tremendous environmental benefits and is a key component to energy independence for our country,” said Senator Lugar. 

Tony George comes from a long line of race enthusiasts.  His grandfather, Tony Hulman Jr., purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and his late father, Elmer George, drove in the Indianapolis 500 three times from 1957 to 1963.

Tony became president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. in 1989.  In 1994, he was named president of his family enterprise, Hulman & Co., and also founded the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series.

Tony’s leadership has overseen new projects at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than a decade, including reconstruction of pit lane and a new control tower.  In 2005, he led the announcement by ICS that all league cars would shift from gas-based methanol to 100 percent corn-based ethanol beginning in 2007.

Ethanol is an alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars.  Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley and wheat.  Ethanol also can be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees, grasses and farm waste products.  

In 2005, the United States produced more than 4 billion gallons of ethanol.  Today, 110 ethanol production facilities exist in the United States and 73 more are currently under construction.

Outside of the Speedway, ethanol is blended with gasoline to create a mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol known as E85 motor fuel.  Vehicles that have been designed to run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).  In Indiana, there are approximately 80 filling stations offering E85 pumps. 

With each lap around a race track at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour, ICS drivers are demonstrating that if 100 percent ethanol is good enough for race cars, E85 is more than suitable to the performance standards Americans expect.   Such visibility has been an important tool in further educating the public about the merits of ethanol and the growing urgency to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. 

In March, Tony stood next to an ICS demonstration race car with the U.S. Capitol Building in the background to kick off the start of ICS’s 2007 season that will showcase ethanol at 17 tracks in the U.S. and around the world. 

Tony knew ethanol would not alter the high-performance of ICS cars, and he recognized the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the automotive industry and be part of the future of alternative fuels in our country. 

Tony George’s initiative and leadership in the shift to ethanol is yet another reason why the Indianapolis 500 is the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”