IndyCar, Indianapolis 500 announce plans to go green

The IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway are going green.

Penske Entertainment, the parent company of the series, announced Friday it will start implementing more eco-friendly plans starting with next month's Indianapolis 500. The race is scheduled for May 29.

All tires delivered to the speedway also will be relayed by electric vehicles and all electricity consumed at the speedway this May will be purchased through 100% renewable energy credits. Race organizers say fans also can offset their carbon footprint by donating to the GreenTrees reforestation project, something the speedway will support financially.

Other initiatives to be adopted this May include expanded recycling and food recovery programs and a retail store inside an electric truck where every item sold will be reusable or designed from recycled plastic.

The Firestone Firehawk guayule race tire will be used during Carb Day’s pit stop challenge and will be the alternate in August at the race in Nashville. The tire contains natural rubber derived from the guayule shrub, which organizers say requires less re-harvesting than traditional sources of rubber.

Long-term plans by IndyCar announced on Earth Day include expanded use of the guayule rubber tire and using transporters that use renewable fuel.