For the second straight year, Rockford, Ill.-based Eclipse Inc. will sponsor the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the Ethanol Indy Racing Team race season to help promote the use of environmentally friendly fuels. Eclipse joins the team of Rahal-Letterman racing by sponsoring Ryan Hunter-Reay and the No. 17 Team Ethanol Car.

Combustion systems maker Eclipse has many customers who use its products and systems in the ethanol production process. Eclipse continues to work to develop energy-efficient technologies and solutions for ethanol and other alternative fuels. The partnership with EPIC and the racing team demonstrates the company's commitment to the alternative fuels industry.

The EPIC IndyCar series is at the forefront of a push for renewable energy with its 100 percent fuel grade ethanol for the 2008 season. Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel that is produced domestically from renewable sources. As an important part of the U.S. economy, ethanol helps to increase farm revenues grow and reduce this country's dependence upon foreign sources of energy. Basically, ethanol is grain alcohol that has been produced from corn and other crops. Ethanol is blended with gasoline for use in motor fuels. Ethanol blends can decrease fuel costs and harmful tailpipe emissions; and increase fuel octane ratings.

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) is a nonprofit alliance of ethanol industry leaders who have come together to grow consumer demand for ethanol energy through targeted marketing. The goal is to reach consumers and key influencers across the country and educate them on the performance and environmental benefits of using an ethanol-enriched fuel in their automobiles.