March 18th
Sonoma, CA

Even though it is no longer St. Patrick's Day, World Speed Motorsports is still focusing on being green. The team has spent the last five years trying to stay on top of new clean technologies to clean up an industry that has been historically unkind to the environment.

"We obviously have a long way to go," asserted team owner Telo Stewart, "but we realize that no matter what industry you are in, there are steps that can, and must, be taken to help reduce the negative impact that we have on the environment. Many of the steps are just little things like recycling, but bigger things like converting our shop to all solar power are goals that we are working on." Here is a few of the things that are happening inside and around the team in 2008:

World GREEN Motorsports
The team has started a website that will be a resource for teams looking to reduce their environmental impact, and in some cases to save money doing it. The site also posts the latest news on alternative fuels in motorsports. The new website address is WorldGreenMotorsports.com.

World Speed Team Member Makes The VW TDI Clean Diesel Team
Craig DiGrazia a Mechanic in Training at World Speed was recently selected as a driver in the Volkswagen sponsored TDI Jetta Cup. One hundred drivers were selected and will participate in a shootout to select the top 30. With up to 30 Jetta TDI's competing in the hands of aspiring, young drivers, this unique motorsport offering will highlight a new, exciting platform of racing that does not currently exist - a full field of clean diesel powered vehicles. Signifying Volkswagen's environmental commitment, the Jetta TDI Cup series will be certified as CarbonFree by Carbonfund.org. Craig will spend his time away from the track trying to find two marketing partners to cover the $40,000 that the eight race series will cost him when he makes the final cut.

Molecule partners with World Speed
Up until very recently the team was getting all of their uniforms and driver suits dry cleaned. The chemicals used in this process are very harmful to the environment, and they also don't do a very good job of cleaning and protecting the garments. Molecule products are kinder to the environment and also increase the safety level and look of the uniforms.

Star Mazda Series presented by Goodyear goes to Ethanol blended fuel
MAZDASPEED and Mazda are also committed to clean technologies and the Star Mazda Series presented by Goodyear has taken the first step by going to an ethanol blended fuel. This along with new mapping has decreased emissions in the popular open wheel series. Mazda is committed to being environmentally conscious and has released a Global Environment Charter to explain the details of this commitment.

World Speed Driver Becomes CEO of electric car company
Ze'ev Drori one of World Speed Motorsport's drivers recently joined Tesla Motors as CEO. The high profile Silicon Valley electric sports car company's first model is an electric two-seat roadster priced at about $100,000, and built on a chassis derived from the Lotus Elise sports car. Tesla's concept for a high performance electric car has become a symbol of a broader move by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs toward "clean-tech," or innovations that can reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gases.

WSM Hires Engineer for New Clean Projects
World Speed has recently hired Jeff Loge who is an engineer with years of experience at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and in the professional racing ranks to head a company project that will change the way World Speed Motorsports, and hopefully others, affect the environment. Details on this and other new projects will be released in an upcoming press release.