this is patrick johnson. >> we took a stock 1998 s-10. we swapped all the components out to build a land speed racing vehicle. we added the second fuel tank which we heat up prior to a run. >> how did you make vegetable oil able to run the truck? >> the diesel motor does not require modifications. we have to bring it up to an operating temperature to 180 degrees. >> now patrick johnson, you said set records and you said land speed. is this a racing truck? >> it is racing as far as reaching a top speed over a longer distance. not like drag racing. >> dave, what was the genesis of the project? >> about ten years ago, i heard about crazy people who were running their old cars on v vegetable oil. it was bouncing around in my head since then. it wasn't until i started school that i realized this could be a reality. >> how long did it take to put the project together? >> it has been going on just over two and a half year. it ca >> dave s there a larger issue with alternative fuels? >> what we are trying to do is raise awareness and what better

. >> patrick johnson, now that you've completed this project, is this where it stops?t are your ambitions? >> in the future, we plan on meeting the petroleum record for diesel. we will be going back this august in pursuit of that record. we will try to beat that with vegetable oil just to show the power. >> dave and patrick johnson, thank you for a time. >> thank you. host: we are back live at the washington auto show at the convention center. you can see some of the displays on your screen. joining us now is mark reuss, general motors vice president. thank you for being on "washington journal." guest: great to be here. one, are we going to talk about a vegetable oil? that is one of my -- it's great to see those guys doing that. host: i thought we would talk to you about what the company is like and some of the public policy issues is facing -- public policy issues gm is facing. guest: i've seen it before and after. i've been here for 20 years. i'm very happy with the focus on the customer and the products. the biggest change is the laser light focus -- laser-like focu