NASCAR could make a big statement by switching from gasoline to a biofuel, something General Motors has been lobbying NASCAR to do for two years.

“I’m passionate about the environment, and I work in racing,” said Brent Dewar, GM’s vice president of field sales, service and parts. “I usually get the question, ’Isn’t that contradictory?’ No. We’re very passionate about green racing.”

The Indy Racing League’s IndyCar series began racing on 100 percent ethanol last year. And Dewar said this year’s Indianapolis 500 will be led by a prototype Corvette pace car that runs on E85 ethanol — and it will be driven by two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, who has a financial stake in the ethanol business in Brazil.

In a speech in January, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said officials are considering biofuels.

“While any steps we take with regards to fuels would have relatively little impact on the environment, it would be an important symbolic move,” France said. “It’s more important than ever to help make sure this country becomes energy independent and take the steps where we can to protect the environment. And you’ve got my commitment and everybody at NASCAR, we’re going to do our part.”

But Vickers isn’t a fan of biofuels. Why turn food into fuel, he says, when something better is within reach?

“Now that you have the ability to make a good, functional hydrogen fuel cell car, then why are we even wasting our time with what’s in between,” Vickers said. “I don’t understand that.”

And Vickers isn’t particularly hung up on driving a race car that runs on something other than gasoline. Instead, he can imagine a day when NASCAR is a museum in motion.

“Maybe 50 years from now there are no gas engines on the road, which would be fantastic. I would love that,” Vickers said. “Maybe the one place you can still hear one is at a NASCAR race.”

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