Hypermiling

If you aren't familiar with the subject of this post, it's a new technique that green and/or frugal drivers are employing to extend their fuel economy. Examples include very gentle acceleration, moderate highway speeds (wind resistance decreases fuel economy dramatically above 60mph or so), and more extreme measures such as drafting behind trucks or shutting off the engine whenever conditions permit coasting.

I confess, I've engaged in a sort of novice hypermiling from time to time. I've intentionally reduced the briskness with which I pull away from a stop. I've even been known to occasionally shut off the engine when coasting up to a stoplight - but only when it's a long-cycle stoplight that I'm familiar with, and traffic is light, and the weather is conducive to sitting a minute or two without windshield wipers, heat, or A/C. I don't encourage (or perform) this on a frequent basis - it really takes a toll on your alternator and starter if you stop-and-start your car dozens of times per day. (Hybrids, on the other hand, are designed with a more durable starter motor and are programmed to shut off the internal combustion engine whenever it's not in use.)

How far has hypermiling gone? Well, that bastion of energy conservationism, the tree-hugging organization known as NASCAR has embraced it. Or at least, they've awkwardly patted each other on the back.

For years, drafting behind another car has been standard practice in NASCAR, as you might remember Tom Cruise depicting on the thigh of his ex-wife in Days of Thunder. But last weekend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Lifelock 400 at Michigan International Speedway by making his gas tank last an unheard-of 55 laps, while all of his competitors pitted to take on more fuel. That's 110 miles on the standard NASCAR tank of 17.75 gallons, or a little better than 6mpg. Not exactly a Civic Hybrid, but pretty good for an 850hp V-8.

And how did he do it? Extreme hypermiling, of course:

[Crew Chief Tony] Eury told Earnhardt to shut the engine off and coast whenever he could under the caution flag in a desperate effort to save more gas.