Gas Prices Even Slowing Down Race Cars

Gas prices are even slowing down race cars. According to a recent New York Times report, "The cost of high-octane fuel for the racecars is up to $8.25 a gallon," and "the escalating price of fuel is altering the already skimpy economics of lower-tier racing, the type that takes place on the half-mile dirt oval at New Egypt Speedway and at most tracks across the country."

Small-scale racing teams often run on a tight budget, and with the increasing cost of racing fuel -- and of diesel to power the heavy truck-and-trailer rigs that drive race cars to the track, gas costs are forcing racers to cut back. "Gas costs are less an issue for teams on the big-time circuits, like Nascar’s Sprint Cup series, because they generally have fuel provided for their racecars and have big-ticket sponsorship deals to help offset travel expenses." But the small-circuit races where drivers learn their skills before moving up to the big races are starting to feel the pinch.

"The stuff these engines race on is 110-octane. But when you're running a low budget, love-of-the-sport operation, it's costly." A recent Winged Sprint race in Salem, Indiana saw a quarter fewer competitors than in previous years.

Even some high-budget race teams are experimenting with fuel changes. Motor Trend reports, "Audi Sport, the automaker's in-house racing division, will be debuting an all new diesel fuel to be used by its dominant R10 TDI LMP1 cars at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans." In Audi's case, the experiment is driven by environmental concerns, not cost-cutting. "The race-only fuel is said to not only produce ample power, but also dramatically reduce CO2 emissions."