Ethanol-powered car breaks a speed record

The world is full of vehicle speed records. 

But one, at least, has fallen to an ethanol-powered car.

An E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline)-powered Viper has rocketed from a standstill to 220.7 MPH in one mile, taking 27.41 seconds at the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Oscoda, Michigan.

The previous standing mile record was 217.85 MPH, held by a gasoline powered street car.

"Going green does not have to mean going slow," said Karl Jacob, owner and self-described serial entrepreneur [ed.: are we the only ones who find sinister overtones in that term?]

The Indy Racing League, which includes the Indianapolis 500 race, switched completely to ethanol, starting with the 2007 season.

The hydrogen industry, not wanting to be left in the dust, has started looking at applying its own technology and fuel to racing (see Gentlemen, start your (hydrogen) engines!.)