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Automotive articles 38 [926]Automakers Urge Nascar to Switch to Renewable Fuels Brent Dewar, General Motors vice president of field sales, along with other automakers, is urging the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to switch from gasoline to ethanol and other renewable fuels. Dewar, while working for GM in Brazil in the 1990s, has witnessed a successful transformation of an oil-reliant economy to ethanol. As such, he intends to see the same transformation happen in the United States. With that in mind, Dewar thinks that NASCAR can give a big hand hence he is lobbying the officials of the racing giant to shift from gasoline to ethanol. “We would embrace it,” said Dewar, GMs vice president of field sales, service and parts. “We think it would be great on a lot of fronts, because obviously it would send a signal to the public. A lot of people dont understand the benefits of ethanol.” Dewar added, “Some research indicates certain kinds of grass and even wood chips might be better suited to making ethanol. Researchers also are working to develop enzymes that break down waste products into ethanol.” A number of racing series have already shifted to renewable fuels. As a fact, the Indy Racing Leagues IndyCar Series will race on 100 percent ethanol starting this season. Also, the LeMans Series confirmed that it will race on a 10 percent ethanol blend. Now, Dewar and other environmentalists in the industry believe that the NASCAR should also shift to alternative fuels to make the commitment more forceful. Gasoline is about 20 percent more proficient than ethanol. Hence, if ethanol is more than 20 percent cheaper than gasoline, ethanol could be a good alternative, environment and economic- wise. Dewar was in Brazil in December and said that ethanol was 50 percent cheaper than gasoline in the said territory. In five years time, Dewar expects cars to literally run on renewable fuels. As auto parts like the Eagle cold air intake be