The Indianapolis 500 cars use it, and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., thinks NASCAR should too.

"It" is American-made ethanol, which Bayh referred to as the "fuel of the future."

Bayh and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., sent a letter to NASCAR President Brian France last week asking that NASCAR consider the conversion of the organization's cars to "high-powered U.S. ethanol."

"No one loves this country more than auto racing fans, and NASCAR has a unique opportunity to take a step that will help the environment and help our national security," Bayh said.

The IndyCar Racing League converted to 100 percent ethanol fuel in March.

The proposal came as preparations were being made for the Indianapolis 500 race in Indianapolis and the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C.

"Our dependence on foreign oil is putting the United States in the disturbing position of bankrolling both sides in the war on terror. We should be looking to the Midwest, not the Mideast, for our fuel," Bayh said.

A story published earlier this month by Edmunds Inside Line, an Internet publication, reported that General Motors plans to formally recommend that NASCAR switch to ethanol.

The report said that NASCAR's response to the idea was lukewarm and quoted a spokesman who said that ethanol is not as efficient as gasoline.

NASCAR has only recently switched from leaded to unleaded gasoline, according to the Edmunds publication.

Bayh spokesman Eric Kleiman was asked Friday if the senator's office had had any response from NASCAR.

"We have been in contact with NASCAR officials and they are receptive to our proposal and have agreed to consider the idea," Kleiman said.

Kleiman said Bayh is partnering with Sen. Thune because he wanted the effort to be bipartisan and because both senators feel strongly about the need to enhance the nation's energy security.

"In addition to saving millions that we spend investing in the Middle East, investing in ethanol would create thousands of new U.S. jobs in all sectors of the economy," Bayh said Friday.

"The costs we pay for our dependence on foreign oil goes far beyond the price we pay at the pump," Bayh said.

"Our young men and women in uniform are not risking their lives to defend Midwest cornfields from terrorism.

"When we use more ethanol, we use less oil. Using ethanol would help improve our national security by making us less reliant on oil from countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia."

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