Seems to me I rember ( showing my age ) that their was an old indy car, Sponsored by STP, ( Andy Granetilli ) that ran as a turbine engine. It was so different that it was banned a few years latter.
There are plenty or solor electric hybrid car races, they just dont go faster then 40 mph
( down hill with a strong tail wind)
Diesel engines are a great addition to motorsports, just allow the petrol cars to have the same power abitlites.