"High performance, high technology Indy cars are precision machines that depend on precisely formulated fuels and we're pleased that our gas chromatograph will be used for fuel testing"
PerkinElmer is providing instruments and testing services for fuel and oil at the 2004 Indy 500 and other IndyCar races. Through careful monitoring at the track, PerkinElmer assures all competitors that the races are being run on a common fuel, and for those cars sponsored by oil companies, assurance that the oil advertised on the car is the oil in the engine.
Under the agreement with the Indy Racing League, PerkinElmer periodically extracts small samples from each car's fuel tank and analyses the chemical composition on a PerkinElmer Clarus 500 gas chromatograph controlled by a TotalChrom chromatography data system, which verifies the purity of the methanol in the fuel as defined by the Indy Racing League standard.
Testing also can reveal other chemicals that may have been added by someone to enhance performance, in which case that team could be fined or disqualified.
"PerkinElmer is excited by our opportunity to contribute our technical expertise to the Indianapolis 500 and the complete IndyCar racing season," said Jonathan Rennert, vice president and general manager, environmental and chemical business at PerkinElmer.
"High performance, high technology Indy cars are precision machines that depend on precisely formulated fuels and we're pleased that our gas chromatograph will be used for the critical fuel testing process".
For maximum performance, Indy cars use a fuel that is a minimum of 99% methanol, which is also used at all 16 races on the 2004 IndyCar series schedule.
PerkinElmer will be testing fuel at these events, as well as testing the high-octane gasoline used at the races of the IRL Menard's Infiniti Pro series. Oil is tested and analysed with a PerkinElmer Spectrum One infrared spectrometer.
High performance is a given at IndyCar races.
The methanol-powered 3.0 litre engines in Indy cars produce more than 675 horsepower (500kW), burn 0.4 gallons of fuel per mile (approx one litre per kilometre) and accelerate from 0 to 100mph (160km/hr) in less than three seconds.
Each of the eight engine pistons is subjected to 70,000g of centrifugal force as the engine turns at 10,300rpm.
Properly formulated fuel is an essential component for maintaining peak performance during the 200-lap race and six pit stops.
PerkinElmer Clarus gas chromatographs and other analytical instruments are widely used in the petrochemical industry for new product development, quality control and extending the service life of complex motor systems.
