Rahal team, Champ Car and Ethanol

UPDATE #2 As we said previously, despite reports elsewhere, we doubted this rumor was true. This Indy Star article pretty much confirms that but we'll leave the rumor as 'speculation' for now.

Talk of Rahal Letterman Racing adding a Champ Car World Series program is just talk, the team's general manager said. According to Scott Roembke, speculation is tied to the ethanol fuel Champ Car could use for its cars. Ethanol sponsors Rahal Letterman's No. 17 car driven by Ryan Hunter-Reay. "Champ Car is looking at ethanol and people are putting two plus two and coming up with six," Roembke said.

08/20/07 This translated Spanish to English article appears to say the same thing about the Rahal team We remain skeptical.

08/19/07 Recall the rumors that Champ Car will switch to an E85 Ethanol fuel formula in 2008 at the urging of Gerald Forsythe. According to rumors making the rounds there have been talks between Rahal Letterman Racing and Champ Car about running an Ethanol sponsored car in Champ Car. While Bobby Rahal's son Graham drives in Champ Car, Bobby himself has remained loyal to the IRL despite struggling for a number of years. While we are skeptical of these rumors it makes sense in that E85 is a more acceptable Ethanol/Gasoline formula than 98% ethanol, which the IRL uses. Also, because there is a drop in HP when switching to ethanol, Champ Car's turbo engine formula will show how you don't have to increase engine displacement in order to maintain the HP and torque you get with 100% methanol.