CHICAGO (May 14, 2007) - While Monday was a much-needed day of rest for most of the 22 drivers that have already qualified for this year’s Indianapolis 500, Rahal Letterman Racing’s Jeff Simmons (#17 Ethanol Dallara/Honda/Firestone) was at work early, journeying to Chicago for an address prior to the opening of the day’s trading at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).

Simmons was joined by Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr, along with IndyCar Series President Terry Angstadt, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) CEO Tom Slunecka and other dignitaries from the CBOT and the Illinois State Legislature. Simmons who yesterday earned his best-ever Indy starting spot by qualifying 13th for the Indianapolis 500, was one of the speakers in a presentation designed to raise Ethanol awareness.

“I am not only honored to be driving the Ethanol car for Rahal Letterman Racing, but I am proud that all of us are at the forefront of the greening of racing,” Simmons explained. “There are so many positives that come out of Ethanol’s partnership with the IndyCar Series, but for me as a driver, the best thing may be that our cars perform even better on the fuel-grade Ethanol than they have in the past. Adding the performance qualities to what Ethanol does for the economy, the farmers and the nation really creates a win-win situation for all of us.”

At the close of the address, Simmons fired the engine on the Ethanol-liveried two-seat Indy Car, with Under Secretary Dorr buckling in to the second seat. After thrilling the assembled media with the sounds only a high-speed race engine can produce, Simmons and the other dignitaries went inside the fabled CBOT to the trading floor, where Simmons got an inside look at where futures and commodities trading takes place.

Simmons and his RLR teammate Scott Sharp (#8 Patrón Dallara/Honda/Firestone) will be back on track at Indianapolis on Wednesday. The cars will be on track from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before next weekend’s final qualifying sessions take place.