The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets underway this weekend with the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding, and for the first time in the history of American motorsports, the entire field in series, all 27 cars on the grid will use 100 percent renewable fuel from Shell.
Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden, driver of the No.2 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Chevrolet says it is a massive step forward for the series.
“It’s a huge step for the series from a sustainability standpoint. Not easy to do and Shell has made that happen. “I thought the performance on the 100% renewable fuel was fantastic.”
Shell’s innovative formula of second-generation ethanol, derived from the waste portion of sugarcane combined with renewable components obtained from non-food waste (supplied by a third party), is part of a joint venture between Shell and Cosan, with Raizen – Brazil’s leading manufacturer of sugarcane ethanol and the largest individual sugar exporter in the world – playing an important role in the supply process.
Dr. Selda Gunsel, Vice President, Fuels & Lubricants Technology at Shell.said:
“This is great for us because we don’t compete with the food chain. “We replaced the remaining component, the fossil-based gasoline, with a renewable component. There are absolutely no fossil-based molecules from a chemical engineering perspective in this formulation.”
Numbers to note
100 octane rating of Shell race fuel
1st U.S.-based motorsports series to run on 100% renewable race fuel
60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-based gasoline*
18.5 U.S. gallons in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES fuel cell
2007 was when INDYCAR started using fuel-grade ethanol instead of petroleum-based methanol
2012 was when INDYCAR switched to an 85% fuel-grade ethanol blend
2 NTT INDYCAR SERIES long-time engine suppliers — Chevrolet and Honda
3.25 billion liters of sugarcane cellulosic ethanol Shell has purchased under a long-term agreement with Raízen
17 races in the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, starting with the 19th race in series history in St. Petersburg, Florida
27 drivers entered in the race who will use the 100% renewable race fuel
28th season under INDYCAR sanction, featuring the 107th Indianapolis 500
2050 is the target for Shell to become a net-zero emissions company**
*Reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to 2005 baseline average gasoline as defined in the RFS. Estimations for Shell Fuel based on CA-GREET model values provided by supplier and published fuel pathways in the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
**To reach this net-zero emissions target, our business plans will have to change as our customers’ needs evolve – current plans alone won’t get us there. There is significant risk that we won’t reach this target if society isn’t at NZE in 2050.
“We should be shouting that from mountaintops. It’s very cool what Shell has been able to provide us, and I think the Chevrolet engine has adapted quite well to it.”
— two-time INDYCAR champion Josef Newgarden
“We’re glad that Shell has been able to bring the renewable race fuel into INDYCAR now, so we are ready to go and help the planet.”
— four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves
“Penske Corporation is a global industry leader like Shell, and we are focusing on sustainability and decarbonization with the ultimate goal of zero carbon emissions.”
— Roger Penske, Penske Corp. Chairman
“With industry leading organizations like Shell and Penske sharing the same ambition for a cleaner energy future, remarkable progress can be made.”
— Mark Miles, President & CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp.
“The fuel and lubricant, and energy solutions developed through our strategic relationship with INDYCAR and Penske Corporation can ultimately help accelerate reduced carbon emissions from transport in many sectors of the economy.”
— Carlos Maurer, Executive Vice President of Sectors and Decarbonization, Shell
“Global demand for sustainable fuels is growing. Combining Raízen’s innovative sugarcane waste technology with Shell’s global distribution network and customer relationships will help to meet that demand.”
— Andrew Smith, Executive Vice President for Trading and Supply, Shell
“We will continue to innovate and work hand in hand with the engine manufacturers with whatever sustainability initiatives come along the way. We at Shell are very excited to see how this journey unfolded from taking fuel innovation from the lab to the dyno test to the track.”
— Bassem Kheireddin, Technology Manager of Motorsports, Shell