Indy cars racing at the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR events are using trash powered fuel to race at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. Methanol, which can be derived from garbage among other sources such as natural gas and wood, is the fuel of choice in the Indy Racing League. In fact, it's been used for a number of years because methanol is high octane and improves the performance of Indy cars. Methanol has powered the past seven champions from General Motors racing.

Methanol also has environmental benefits, because it has lower emissions than gasoline. But most importantly, methanol is a safe fuel - cutting down on fire hazards and easier to handle than gasoline since it is water-soluble.

And one day, with a little more research and some engine tuning, automotive experts believe garbage could be fueling cars on city streets as well. So, the next time you're at the pump, remember someday it may be trash you're pumping into your tank.