The IndyCar Series' groundbreaking use of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in 2006 has been praised during the Inter-American Commission on Ethanol hosted by Florida governor Jeb Bush.

The IndyCar Series and its partner, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), received the Akerman Senterfitt Ethanol Innovator in Sports Award during the presentation in Miami. The championship is the first in the sport to have its engines powered by the renewable, biodegradable and environmentally-friendly alternative fuel.

“The IndyCar Series' choice of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol sends a message to consumers that performance and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand when choosing ethanol-enriched fuel at the pump,” said Tom Slunecka, executive director of EPIC.

Bush will co-chair the commission, whose mission is to promote ethanol use, after leaving office on 2 January. He called for the United States to boost ethanol use to 15 billion gallons by 2015, approximately double the requirements set forth in the 2005 Energy Policy Act signed by his brother, President George W Bush.

The United States has a growing corn-based ethanol program that produced more than four billion gallons in 2005.

The 2007 IRL season will open on 24 March at Homestead-Miami Speedway.