Hunter-Reay gets at least one more race

Ryan Hunter-Reay

UPDATE "Reunited and it feels so good." Those may be the lyrics to a classic song by Peaches and Herb, but one may suspect they're whistling the tune in Ryan Hunter-Reay's Ethanol USA-Team IZOD® pit at the Iowa Corn Indy 250.

At the annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis Monday, ICM, Inc. and Green Plains Renewable Energy, both industry leaders in the development and production of biofuels in the U.S., announced they are teaming up to sponsor the #37 Ethanol USA-Team IZOD car from Andretti Autosport driven by Hunter-Reay.

Hunter-Reay was sponsored by the U.S. ethanol industry in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The IZOD IndyCar® Series is the only motorsports circuit using 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol.

Hunter-Reay is in the midst of a thrilling 2010 season. He and Team IZOD began the season with a runner-up finish in the Sao Paulo Indy 300. Three races later, he picked up his first victory of the year at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He has collected three top-5's and currently sits sixth in IZOD IndyCar Series points standings – 45 points behind the leader – and poised to make a championship run.

Higher blends of ethanol have proven themselves with flying colors in auto racing. IndyCar racing has always been the most technologically advanced form of racing and has always prided itself on being on the forefront of automotive innovation. Ethanol has an octane rating of 113 which can be utilized in higher blends to improve performance and keep engines clean.

The Iowa Corn Indy 250 Presented by Pioneer® is scheduled for Sunday, June 20, 2010 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

DAVE VANDER GRIEND, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ICM, INC.:
"We're excited to be back in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and thrilled to renew our relationship with Ryan Hunter-Reay. Ryan has demonstrated his tremendous skill on the race track, and is a passionate supporter of the U.S. ethanol industry."

TODD BECKER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY:
"This partnership is a great platform to demonstrate the environmental and performance aspects of ethanol right in the backyard of the #1 ethanol producing state with over 84 million barrels of production. We continue to prove year after year that ethanol has become a permanent solution to breaking our dependence on foreign oil in a clean and responsible manner."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
"Everyone at Andretti Autosport is honored to share the spotlight with the U.S. ethanol industry. We share the same ideals of innovation and ingenuity as those who seek a more secure energy future in the U.S."

RYAN HUNTER-REAY, #37 ETHANOL USA-TEAM IZOD DRIVER, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be representing Ethanol USA in the IZOD IndyCar Series again for a race that's fueled by ethanol made in the United States. Everyone talks about cleaner, greener energy, but this is one industry that has been consistently delivering on its promises."

06/14/10 With a little help from a couple of players in the U.S. ethanol world, Ryan Hunter-Reay’s feel-good season with Andretti Autosport will continue this weekend at Iowa.

Only guaranteed sponsorship from IZOD through Texas earlier this month, Michael Andretti’s marketing staff has been scrambling to find money to keep RHR on the track.

“Right now we’re covered for Iowa because ICM and Green Plains Renewable Energy, two producers of U.S. ethanol, are getting behind Ryan," said Michael Andretti.

“The car is going to be a little different color but that’s fine with me and Ryan. It’s great to have their support." SPEEDTV.com