1,000 Miles On A Tank Of Gas

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- How many miles do you get on a single tank of gas? 300, 400, maybe 500?

This weekend, a half dozen racers driving new Ford Fusion hybrids will try and get one thousand miles out of a tank cruising around the G-W Parkway and DC.

But can they teach a notorious leadfoot?

"A little push," says world record hypermiler Wayne Gerdes.

"You got to push too," Digital correspondent Bruce Leshan yells back. "How did I get stuck doing all the pushing?"

Gerdes is known for going to extremes to save gas, including pushing his Honda Accord.

"If you push a foot, and get three blocks for free, why wouldn't you?" Gerdes asks.

But Gerdes says with the latest generation hybrids, he can get fantastic mileage without much effort.

"I think we're going to go quite a bit beyond 1000 miles," says Gerdes. "I can't say what, but you're going to find out Monday morning."

To get 1000 miles out of the Ford Fusion's 17 and a half gallon tank, he's going to have to average 57 miles a gallon.

"Gentle, gentle, gentle," he tells 9NEWS NOW as he pulls out on to Duke Street in the Ford Fusion hybrid. First thing, no jackrabbit starts. And do the speed limit.

Take your foot off the gas just before you crest a hill, and then pick the speed back up on the other side. In city traffic, look three lights ahead, and slow down to try and slip through without stopping.

"Easy on the accelerator, 'cause look ahead," Gerdes warns as we approach an intersection.

Pull way over to the right to let other drivers know what you're up to.

"I want you to ridge ride," he says.

If drivers are coming up fast behind you, you can pull left to get out of their way.

Rolling into a parking lot.

"We're coming in hot. We're coming in hot. No brakes. No brakes, there you go," praises Gerdes.

Gerdes never hits the brakes, and then looks for a pull through spot at the top of the hill.

Bruce Leshan ended up at, 58 miles a gallon.

"I think you have a few more gallons left in you," Gerdes says, shaking Bruce's hand.

But this novice has already done well enough to beat the challenge.

Gerdes started trying to hypermile the day after 9/11, hoping to wean the U-S off foreign oil.

To see the results go to www.fordstory.com.