Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: At its inception , the IRL used methanol racing fuel , which had been the de facto standard in American open wheel racing since the 1964 Indianapolis 500 Eddie Sachs - Dave MacDonald crash .
Simplified: At its inception , the IRL used methanol racing fuel . Methanol has been the standard choice in American open wheel racing since a fiery crash at the 1964 Indianapolis 500 .