What grade of gas is used for Nascar race cars?

Answer 1

NASCAR to Use Unleaded Fuel in 2008.

NASCAR announced that NASCAR teams would switch to unleaded fuel by the start of the 2008 season. This is a significant development for NASCAR teams as they have long been the target of environmental groups. This change is possible because researchers at Sunoco have developed Sunoco 260 GTX a new fuel formula that does not damage racing engines.

Beginning in 2011, Nascar started to use Sunoco Green E15 racing fuel. This is a renewable fuel blended with 15 percent American-made ethanol from American-grown corn.

Answer 2

The fuel used in F1 cars is fairly similar to ordinary gasoline, albeit with a far more tightly controlled mix. Formula One fuel cannot contain compounds that are not found in commercial gasoline, in contrast to alcohol-based fuels used in American open-wheel racing. Blends are tuned for maximum performance in given weather conditions or different circuits. During the period when teams were limited to a specific volume of fuel during a race, exotic high-density fuel blends were used which were actually heavier than water, since the energy content of a fuel depends on its mass density.

To make sure that the teams and fuel suppliers are not violating the fuel regulations, the FIA requires Elf, Shell, Mobil, and the other fuel teams to submit a sample of the fuel they are providing for a race. At any time, FIA inspectors can request a sample from the fueling rig to compare the "fingerprint" of what is in the car during the race with what was submitted. The teams usually abide by this rule, but in 1997, Mika Häkkinen was stripped of his third place finish at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium after the FIA determined that his fuel was not the correct formula, as well as in 1976, both McLaren and Penske cars were forced to the rear of the Italian Grand Prix after the octane mixture was found to be too high.

Answer 3

In NHRA, it depends on the class. Most of the classes use racing gasoline, and the biggest supplier is VP Racing Fuels. Some classes use alcohol. Sunoco makes it. Top Fuel and Funny Car run nitromethane, and this is proving problematic. The only US manufacturer of this was Dow, and they quit selling it for racing applications because of security problems. VP Racing Fuels is the official supplier, they get it from China and the Chinese are being hardcases about it. NASCAR uses unleaded racing fuel. Sunoco is the current supplier, but every refiner that makes racing fuel knows how to make it.

Answer 4

It depends on the type of sports car you are talking about. For example:

• NASCAR engines burn 110-octane leaded gasoline.
• Indy cars burn pure methanol (a.k.a. wood alcohol, CH3OH).
• Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars burn nitromethane (CH3NO2).

Each of these fuels has advantages and disadvantages. For example, the methanol fuel used in Indy cars has the advantage that it can run at extremely high compression ratios (meaning more power -- see How Car Engines Workfor details). Methanol also has a nice safety feature -- you can extinguish a methanol fire with water. 110-octane gasoline also handles high compression well. Nitromethane is basically a liquid explosive and contains a great deal of energy per unit volume (more than twice that of gasoline).

Answer 5

Up until the 2008 season Nascar used leaded fuel. Beginning in 2009 and for the very first time NASCAR will use unleaded fuel. It is unleaded, Sunoco 260 GTX.

Answer 6

They use special grade 95 octane level gas.

Answer 7

Nascar uses Sunoco Green E15. This is a 98 octane blend with 15% ethanol made from US grown corn. It is specifically made for Nascar.

Answer 8

Petrol - with a high octane content !