Starting in 1965, USAC Indy Car competitions, including the Indianapolis 500, encouraged and later mandated the use of methanol fuel. Why? Because in the 1964 Indianapolis 500, there was a seven-car crash on the second lap. Two drivers died when their gasoline-fueled cars exploded. This fire created a cloud of thick black smoke that completely blocked the view of any oncoming cars, making the collision even more dangerous.Enter methanol fuel. Methanol fires are essentially invisible in daylight;