ALMS. Publisher's Note: The American Le Mans Series is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy and SAE International to incorporate “green racing” principles into its 2008 racing season. The ALMS will be the first motorsports series to meet the criteria for green racing being developed by these groups. The criteria set forth by SAE in concert with the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy to qualify as a Green Racing series require that certain elements in a series be present. These elements focus on three vital characteristics that measure performance, fuel efficiency and ecological impact. They include: The use of renewable bio-based fuel or fuels; the use of multiple engines, fuels and powertrain configurations; the use of regenerative energy powertrain technologies; the use of well-to-wheel energy analysis and GHG analysis and the use of emission control strategies and systems.

ALMS also announced the creation of a first-ever, Series-wide “Green Racing Challenge.” This new competition will encourage manufacturers to introduce and develop their “green” technologies and will be an incremental element of the Series’ signature event – the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans race to be held Oct. 4 at Road Atlanta - with details to be announced later. “The auto manufacturers competing in the American Le Mans Series have made it very clear that this is a direction and an overall initiative that is important to them,” said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the Series. “The opportunity to formally align with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and SAE International makes our platform very special and unique – to auto manufacturers and ultimately to consumers. At a time when nearly all of motorsports has lost its relevance regarding progressive technology or any connection from the race track to the showroom floor, the American Le Mans Series stands alone in providing a platform of solutions for our nation’s automotive, transportation and energy needs,”

Atherton continued. “This partnership between government and industry to use the American Le Mans Series as an incubator to accelerate the development of new, relevant and practical automotive technologies that will use less fuel and emit fewer greenhouse gasses and air pollutants further emphasizes the American Le Mans Series as the global leader in this important area.” 

I'm glad at least one organization had the balls to follow-up on the principles and visionary ideas for relevancy in motorsports first introduced in "The Future of Racing" speech I gave to auto industry and motorsports industry movers and shakers in Detroit one year ago. It's just a small step, however, and it's still not enough. Especially with F1 locked into a ludicrous 10-year engine spec "freeze" and with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway still reluctant to assume its pioneering role as the world's advanced automotive technological proving ground that it once enjoyed. And then there's NASCAR - comfortably 25 years behind the times - who just managed to get it together to go to unleaded fuel. I'm going to keep pushing and keep ranting on this subject because good enough just isn't good enough. And this just in - it never was - PMD