2009 IRL Reports: Firestone Racing

IRL Team reports for the 2009 IRL season

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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:34 am

Watkins Glen: Firestone preview


FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen
Watkins Glen International - Watkins Glen, N.Y.
July 4-5, 2009 - Round 9 of 17

Race Distance: 202.2 mi./325.409 km (60 laps on the 3.37-mi./5.423-km permanent road course).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, July 5, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 648, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);

* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 318, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);

* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 404, each entry has five sets available as needed.

Per IndyCar Series rules, each entry must declare to the league within one hour after qualifying on which dry-condition tire spec it intends to start the race. All cars must use at least one primary set and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. Firestone Racing is bringing a new primary tire specification to Watkins Glen, while alternate tires will be used here for the first time. The rain tire is the more durable, "road course rain" specification. The primary spec is a durable road course compound and construction, designed to withstand the high speeds encountered on the IndyCar Series' longest permanent road course. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound which will provide more grip and faster lap times, yet will trade off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "After nearly three months of racing on ovals, Firestone Racing is looking forward to a few consecutive road and street course races. Not only does the move from ovals to road courses like Watkins Glen showcase the talent of the IndyCar Series drivers through the differing demands of the diverse track lineup, it also gives Firestone Racing an opportunity to once again feature our alternate tire concept. Last year's event in Watkins Glen was one of the more exciting road/street course events of the season, and with alternate tires in the mix this year, I anticipate that this year's race will be as good or better. There is a significant gap between the primary and alternate tire specifications for this event, so tire management and strategy will no doubt come into play. And with ever-changing weather forecasts, it remains to be seen whether our wet tire will be necessary as well!"

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each race, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com to vote for the nominee they believe made the most "Tire-ific" move of the race. Nominees from Richmond were Hideki Mutoh, Tony Kanaan and Graham Rahal. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:56 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK QUALIFYING REPORT
IndyCar Series - Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen
Watkins Glen International - Watkins Glen, NY
Saturday, July 4, 2009 - Round 9 of 17

"Firestone Fast Six" Qualifying Results (mph): 1. Ryan Briscoe (136.935); 2. Justin Wilson (135.841); 3. Scott Dixon (135.209); 4. Mario Moraes (135.100); 5. Graham Rahal (134.871); 6. Dario Franchitti (no speed).

Firestone qualifying highlight: Alternate tires once again added a great deal of excitement to qualifying. Each car had two sets of "reds" at its disposal, and teams used varying strategies to advance through the knock-out rounds. The attached chart indicates tire usage for each driver through the qualifying session. This afternoon, teams will receive one additional set of new alternate tires that must be used for two green flag laps during tomorrow's race.

Qualifying temperatures: Temperatures ranged from 85°-99° F (29°-37° C) track (depending on cloud cover) and from 65°-66° F (18°C) ambient.

From pole winner Ryan Briscoe, #6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "I'm so glad to get the pole - we really had a great car today. The Firestone red (alternate) tires made things tricky with strategy during qualifying, but for me, the reds were a lot of fun today!"

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "For our first permanent road course event of the season, the qualifying session, including the Firestone Fast Six shootout for the pole, was just as exciting at the two previous street circuit events on the schedule, thanks in no small part to the faster alternate Firestone Firehawk tires. We expected to see a pretty big gap in speed between the primary and alternate tires, and that proved true. Alternates were over a second a lap quicker than the primary tires. Congratulations to Ryan Briscoe and Team Penske for a hard-fought pole position."
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:56 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen
Watkins Glen International - Watkins Glen, NY
Sunday, July 5, 2009 - Round 9 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Justin Wilson; 2. Ryan Briscoe; 3. Scott Dixon; 4. Helio Castroneves; 5. Marco Andretti.

Race Temperatures: Temps ranged from 118°-114° F (47°-45° C) track and from 73-70°F (22°-21° C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Justin Wilson and Dale Coyne Racing played their "red" tire strategy perfectly, utilizing alternate tires to their maximum advantage in the first stint to take the lead, and during the last stint, where the softer, grippier alternate tires allowed Wilson to stretch out a commanding lead for the victory. A chart detailing each driver's tire use for the race is on the following page.

From race winner Justin Wilson, #18 Z Line Designs Dale Coyne Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "My Firestone alternate tires were fantastic. They just gave me all the grip I needed, and they felt so good. So I've got to thank Firestone for giving us the option to have different compounds here, and have fun in the race. I really enjoyed the race!"

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "What a well-deserved, emotional victory for Justin Wilson and Dale Coyne Racing. Everyone at Firestone Racing offers them a hearty congratulation. We are especially proud for Dale and the team, as they are the only IndyCar Series team that have run on our company's tires since we re-entered the sport in 1995. The alternate tires definitely added a great deal of excitement to today's race. They performed exactly as designed - they offered a speed advantage at the cost of a bit of durability. We saw Scott Dixon wear a set out in the first stint, but Justin managed his perfectly and was able to pull away on alternate tires at the end. This definitely bodes well for excitement next week on the Streets of Toronto."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize will be awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. This week's nominees are: Justin Wilson, a dominating performance to give Dale Coyne Racing its first victory; Marco Andretti, for a fifth-place finish after going a lap down, and Mike Conway, for a consistent run to 6th place in his first IndyCar road course event. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This race's winner will be named at next week's race in Toronto.
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Post by mlittle » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:12 am

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 648, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);

* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 318, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);

* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 404, each entry has five sets available as needed.

Per IndyCar Series rules, each entry must declare to the league within one hour after qualifying on which dry-condition tire spec it intends to start the race. All cars must use at least one primary set of Firehawks and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. For 2009 street-course races, Firestone has three tread compound specifications available, all using the same body construction. The primary tire spec for Toronto is the most durable compound of the three. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound to provide more grip and faster lap times. The softer alternate tires trade off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages. Firestone Racing is bringing proven tire specifications to Toronto. The same primary and alternate specs were used earlier this season at Long Beach. This marks the only time this season that identical primary and alternate tire specs will be run at two events. The Firestone rain tire this weekend is the softer "street course rain" spec.

>From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "It's great for Indy racing to return to the streets of Toronto, where it has enjoyed a great heritage. We know how passionate the Canadian fans are for their racing and Firestone Racing is excited to be back here as the IndyCar Series makes its debut. Our company has loads of winning experience on this circuit, so we're confident that the Firestone Firehawk tires will provide the assured footing necessary to make for another thrilling Toronto race weekend. We even have experience running primary and alternate tire specs here from the later days of Champ Car with our Bridgestone brand. We've seen what a difference the Firestone alternate tires have made in road and street events thus far in 2009, and we expect them to contribute that extra level of strategy, nuance and unpredictability again this weekend that has added so much to the races this season."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each race, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com and vote for who they believe made the "Tire-ific" move of the race. Nominees from Watkins Glen were Marco Andretti, Mike Conway and Justin Wilson. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:22 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK QUALIFYING REPORT

Firestone qualifying highlight: Dario Franchitti showed the tenacity of both the Firehawk primary and alternate tires by setting the fastest lap of a session on each specification. He was quickest in his group in segment one on a new set of primary, black-sidewall Firehawks. His pole-winning lap in the Firestone Fast Six came on a used set of alternate Firehawks.

Qualifying temperatures: Track temperatures ranged from 98o.-104o. F (37o.-40o. C) and ambient from 76o.-81o. F (24o.-27o. C) ambient.

From pole winner Dario Franchitti, #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "This place is a challenge, and when it came down to it, I pulled a lap out. That was a lap; that was all she had. I came in and said, 'Dude, if they can go quicker than that, they can have it.' I'm pretty happy."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "That sure was another nail-biting round of qualifying that went down to the final laps before being decided. Having the two specifications of Firestone tires definitely added to the drama again. Dario and the Target crew did a tremendous job using both the primary and alternate specs to their fullest in winning the pole. It was especially impressive to see them have the confidence in a used set of the alternate reds to put them back on his car for the Firestone Fast Six, go out and take the pole by more than a quarter-second. But Dario has been strong at Toronto since winning the pole in his very first race here in 1997, also on Firestone tires. It was also good to see strong qualifying showings from drivers like Will Power, Alex Tagliani and Mike Conway. It just shows the strength and depth of the IndyCar Series, and bodes for a great race tomorrow."
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:53 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Honda Indy Toronto
Streets of Exhibition Place - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sunday, July 12, 2009 - Round 10 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Dario Franchitti; 2. Ryan Briscoe; 3. Will Power; 4. Scott Dixon; 5. Justin Wilson.

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 98°-105° F (37°-41° C) and ambient from 72-75°F (22°-24° C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Proven Firehawk street-course tire specifications worked as expected this weekend. The softer alternate "reds" gave an additional burst of speed but lacked the long-lasting durability of the black-sidewall primary tires. Helio Castroneves put an incredible 48 laps (84) miles on his first set of primary Firehawks over the bumpy and slick Toronto circuit. A chart detailing each driver's tire use for the race is on the following page.

From race winner Dario Franchitti, #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "I struggled with the reds, just toward the end of the stint. The Firestone black sidewalls were awesome. The longer you ran them, the better they got. It was tougher to get them up to temperature today, but the longer you ran and fuel burnt off, the faster you got."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "The fans absolutely got their money's worth today with the return of Indy racing to Toronto. There was plenty of exciting racing and passing, many lead changes, and a race winner who's almost made Canada a second home with all his wins in this country. Congratulations to Dario and the Target team. It was great to see Canadians Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani battling at the front, too. The Firestone tires did just what they were supposed to do today, and they definitely played a role in the overtaking when some drivers were on fresher primary or alternate Firehawks. This is a tough circuit on tires but the Firehawks did their job and we're happy."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize is awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. This week's nominees are: Dario Franchitti, for his pressuring pass of Helio Castroneves for the lead on lap 65; Danica Patrick, for running the entire race on just two sets of tires (47 laps on the primaries, 38 on the alternates) to finish sixth; and Will Power, for coming back from nearly a full lap down to finish third. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This award winner will be named at the July 26 race at Edmonton. In pre-race ceremonies today, Justin Wilson was named the "Tire-ific" winner from the July 5 race at Watkins Glen.
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Post by mlittle » Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:26 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Rexall Edmonton Indy
City Centre Airport - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
July 24-26, 2009 - Round 11 of 17

Race Distance: 186.2 mi./299.659 km (95 laps on the 1.96-mi./3.154-km temporary airport circuit).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, July 26, at 5 p.m. ET on VERSUS, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 674, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);

* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 308, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);

* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 388, each entry has five sets available as needed.

Per IndyCar Series rules, each entry must declare to the league within one hour after qualifying on which dry-condition tire spec it intends to start the race. All cars must use at least one primary set and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. Firestone Racing is bringing the same primary tire specification that was used in the 2008 Rexall Edmonton Indy, and the softer-compound alternate tires will be used at this track for the first time in the IndyCar Series. The rain tire is the more durable, "road course rain" specification. The primary spec is a durable road course compound and construction, designed to withstand the high speeds encountered on the fast and bumpy temporary airport circuit. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound which will provide more grip and faster lap times, yet will trade off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Firestone Racing is looking forward to the IndyCar Series' second trip to Edmonton. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic that we encounter anywhere on the schedule, and the temporary airport circuit provides plenty of room for exciting racing. So far this season, the Firestone Firehawk alternate tires have added a lot of drama and strategy to qualifying and racing on street and road courses, and we anticipate that will hold true this weekend and that the IndyCar Series will put on a great show for the crowds. In fact, one of the reasons we introduced the alternate tire concept to the IndyCar Series this year was due to the amount of interest shown by fans in Edmonton last year, who had seen the alternate tires in action during the Champ Car races there."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each race, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com to vote for the nominee they believe made the most "Tire-ific" move of the race. Nominees from Toronto were Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick and Will Power. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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Post by mlittle » Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:02 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK QUALIFYING REPORT IndyCar Series - Rexall Edmonton Indy WCity Centre Airport - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada WSaturday, July 25, 2009 - Round 11 of 17

"Firestone Fast Six" Qualifying Results (time): 1. Will Power (01:01:0133); 2. Ryan Briscoe (01:01:1232); 3. Helio Castroneves (01:01:2033); 4. Scott Dixon (01:01:2046); 5. Graham Rahal (01:01:6952); 6. Dario Franchitti (01:01:8344).

Firestone qualifying highlight: Alternate tires once again added a great deal of excitement to qualifying. Each car had two sets of "reds" at its disposal, and teams used varying strategies to advance through the knock-out rounds. The attached chart indicates tire usage for the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session. This afternoon, teams will declare on which tire specification they intend to start the race and will receive one additional set of new alternate tires that must be used for two green flag laps during tomorrow's race.

Qualifying temperatures: Temperatures ranged from 114°-112° F (45°-44° C) track and from 91°-87° F (32°-30°C) ambient.

From pole winner Will Power, #12 Penske Racing/Penske Truck Rental Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "The Firestone Firehawk tires were good! I used two used sets of red [alternate] tires in that last session. They were very consistent - I just kept getting more and more grip! I'm very happy; it's great for the team and all the guys."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Team Penske sure knows how to dominate qualifying at this track! Congratulations to them for securing the top three spots on the grid. And that was a job well-done by Will Power, who is continuing his impressive performance on a partial schedule this season. Temperatures were extremely high today, but both the primary and alternate Firestone Firehawk tires held up well in these tough conditions. In fact, these tires really like the heat! Tomorrow's forecast looks considerably cooler, so it will be interesting to see if that has any effect on the handling of the cars. Teams will have to consider that factor in addition to their alternate and primary tire strategy."

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Post by mlittle » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:46 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Rexall Edmonton Indy
City Centre Airport - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Sunday, July 26, 2009 - Round 11 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Will Power; 2. Helio Castroneves; 3. Scott Dixon; 4. Ryan Briscoe; 5. Dario Franchitti.

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 102°-110° F (38°-43° C) and ambient from 79-80°F (26° C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Tire selection between the primary and alternate Firestone Firehawk tires varied quite a bit today, and a chart detailing each driver's tire use for the race is on the following page. The final stint saw Ryan Briscoe and Paul Tracy on alternate tires, while the other four drivers in the top six were on the primary spec.

From race winner Will Power, #12 Penske Racing Penske Truck Rental Dallara/Honda/ Firestone: "The Firestone Firehawk tires were really good today; both the primary and alternate tires were spot-on. They lasted really well there at the end when the grip came, and the car was really strong. So I was very happy with the tires!"

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Congratulations to Will Power and Penske Racing for a dominating performance all weekend. They were certainly the class of the field here in Edmonton, and it's great to see Will get his first win in the IndyCar Series. Both the primary and alternate specification Firestone Firehawk tires performed well here today. If you paid attention, the red alternate tires could be really fast even at the end of a run. In fact, race winner Will Power set his fastest race lap on alternates on lap 31 of 33 in his first stint. That just goes to show that tire management can make all the difference in the world."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize is awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. This week's nominees are: Will Power, for leading 90 of 95 laps to score his first IndyCar Series win; Helio Castroneves, for using lapped traffic to go three-wide and pass Scott Dixon for second on lap 86, and Mike Conway, for coming back from an early incident to set the fastest race lap on alternate tires. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This award winner will be named at the August 1 race at Kentucky. In pre-race ceremonies today, Danica Patrick was named the "Tire-ific" winner from the July 12 race at Toronto.

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Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:24 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Meijer Indy 300
Kentucky Speedway - Sparta, Kentucky
July 31-August 1, 2009 - Round 12 of 17

Race Distance: 300 miles/482.803 km (200 laps on the 1.5-mile/2.414-km superspeedway).

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* 960 dry-condition slicks; each car receives nine sets (36 tires) for the race weekend.

Developed during testing at Chicagoland just this past June, they are the same construction as the Homestead Open, Texas, and Kansas tire, with new compounds on both the right and left sides. The compounds are designed to have similar grip and wear to the Kansas race tire. This tire was designed to withstand high superspeedway temperatures and speeds while providing consistent grip.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "After three consecutive road/street course events, the IndyCar Series once again shifts gears to tackle one of its signature 1.5-mile, high-banked superspeedways. Firestone Racing engineers have once again put data acquired during a mid-season test at Chicagoland to work in designing the newest evolution of our superspeedway-spec Firestone Firehawk racing slick. While the changes are subtle, drivers who participated in the Chicagoland test gave this tire very favorable reviews. We understand that Kentucky Speedway performed some diamond grinding on the corners to reduce some of the track's bumpiness. That, combined with the new rules implemented by IndyCar Series officials to improve on-track passing opportunities, should lead to an exciting race under the lights at Kentucky Speedway. Also, I'd like to mention that this weekend marks the 100th Firestone Indy Lights race run under the Indy Racing League banner. Firestone Racing is proud to have been the sole tire supplier for each and every one of those 100 races."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize will be awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. It could be relying on the Firehawks' great grip to execute a daring pass, or having the confidence in the tires' durability to run an extra stint on a set to improve position. After each race, Firestone Racing officials will submit the top three "Tire-ific" candidates to www.indycar.com, where fans will be able to cast their votes during the ensuing week to determine the winner. The winner from last week's Edmonton race (nominees are Will Power, Helio Castroneves, and Mike Conway) will be named in pre-race ceremonies Sunday.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:46 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Meijer Indy 300
Kentucky Speedway - Sparta, KY
Saturday, August 1, 2009 - Round 12 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Ryan Briscoe; 2. Ed Carpenter; 3. Tony Kanaan; 4. Helio Castroneves; 5. Graham Rahal.

Race Temperatures: Temps ranged from 85o.-81o. F (29o.-27o. C) track and from 78o.- 76o.F (25o.- 24o.C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone Racing brought an all-new superspeedway specification to Kentucky that was developed based on testing at Chicagoland this past June. The new tire spec, combined with the aerodynamic changes introduced by the IndyCar Series and the extra horsepower from Honda, certainly brought magic to the track tonight.

From race winner Ryan Briscoe, #6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "Unbelievable! That was a fun race. The options the IndyCar Series made were good - I got in trouble a couple of times, and I was able to work my way back up and make lots of passes. My Firestone Firehawk tires were great. No complaints here! They were very consistent and good right out of the box."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "Wow, was that a race or what? It's great to see side-by-side racing for the lead return to the IndyCar Series on a 1.5-mile oval. Congratulations to Ryan Briscoe for his first superspeedway victory and to Ed Carpenter for really giving him a run for his money! The Firestone Firehawk tires performed great tonight. We actually saw a lot less wear than we anticipated, considering the recent grinding of the track. I'm glad that Firestone tires could contribute in part to the awesome racing we witnessed here in Kentucky tonight."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize will be awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Prior to today's race, Will Power received the award for last week's event in Edmonton for his domination of that event. This week's nominees are: Ryan Briscoe, for coming back from close calls with the wall for his first superspeedway win; Ed Carpenter, for moving from fifth to second on lap 128, putting him in position to challenge for the win; and Sarah Fisher, for a solid drive to twelfth after starting 22nd. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This race's winner will be named at next week's Honda Indy 300 at Mid-Ohio.
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Post by mlittle » Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:21 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Lexington, Ohio
August 7-9, 2009 - Round 13 of 17

Race Distance: 191.93 miles/308.881 km (85 laps on the 2.258-mi./3.634-km permanent road course).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, August 9, at 1 p.m. ET on VERSUS, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 584, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);

* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 294, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);

* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 372, each entry has five sets available as needed.

Firestone Racing is supplying all-new specifications for both its Mid-Ohio primary and alternate race tires. The black-sidewall primary Firehawks have a compound/ construction formula that is slightly more durable than last year's Mid-Ohio tire. The red-sidewall alternates feature the same tire construction as the primaries, but with a softer tread compound to provide more grip and faster lap times in exchange for some long-term compound durability. Per IndyCar Series rules, all cars must use at least one primary set and one new ("sticker") alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. Also, each entry must declare to the league within one hour after qualifying on which dry-condition tire spec it intends to start the race. The Firestone wet-condition tire for this weekend is the softer "street-course rain" spec.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "The entire IndyCar Series paddock seems rejuvenated following last weekend's thrilling Kentucky race, and we're all eager to build on that excitement at Mid-Ohio. This is Firestone Racing's designated home race since the Firehawk tires for this and every IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights event are designed and produced only an hour away in Akron. Last year's Mid-Ohio race had great fan turnout and we expect that again, including several hundred Firestone teammates and associates there to support our racing efforts. The implementation of the Firestone alternate tire program this season has added so much drama and unpredictability to the IndyCar Series road- and street-course events. We're counting on that to be the case again this weekend, since Mid-Ohio is such a demanding and technical permanent circuit requiring precise tire performance and tire management. It will be fascinating to follow the varying tire strategies throughout the race weekend to see who maximizes the capabilities of their Firehawks."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each race, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com and vote for the nominee they believe made the most "Tire-ific" move of the race. Nominees from Kentucky were Ryan Briscoe, Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:44 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK QUALIFYING REPORT

"Firestone Fast Six" Qualifying Results (mph): 1. Ryan Briscoe (121.905); 2. Justin Wilson (121.870); 3. Scott Dixon (121.282); 4. Graham Rahal (121.210); 5. Helio Castroneves (120.999); 6. Dario Franchitti (120.643).

Firestone qualifying highlight: Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe captured his third pole position of the season, crediting the Firestone red-sidewall alternate tires for helping him to the top spot in the Firestone Fast Six session. Each car had two sets of "reds" at its disposal for all of qualifying, and teams used varying strategies to advance through the knockout rounds. The attached chart indicates tire usage for those driver who competed in the Firestone Fast Six. Following qualifying, each car received an additional set of new Firehawk alternate tires that must be used for at least two green-flag laps during Sunday's race.

Qualifying temperatures: Track temperatures ranged from 76-91 F (24-33 C) and ambient temperatures from 70-76 F (21-24 C) ambient.

From pole winner Ryan Briscoe, #6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It's been tricky conditions so far with the rain, and there are some patches in the corners which changes the balance of the car from corner to corner. But those red Firestones in final qualifying were awesome - a lot of grip and, as usual, a lot of fun to drive. The team has a lot of history here, we love the track. All the credit to the engineers and mechanics at Team Penske; they give us a fantastic car to drive. They make my job a whole lot easier."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "Ryan Briscoe certainly has the momentum going in his favor, taking the pole today coming off last weekend's exciting win at Kentucky. He definitely liked the Firestone alternate tires today, and it bears noting that Scott Dixon set the IndyCar Series qualifying lap record for Mid-Ohio (121.927 mph) on the 'reds' during the second segment today. So the alternates possess the speed advantage we anticipated when they were designed. Now it's up to the drivers and teams to see who manages them best over the course of a long run in tomorrow's race. As usual, it should be an exciting race and we believe tire strategy will play a pivotal role in determining the outcome."
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Post by mlittle » Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:47 pm

Originally-From: Bridgestone Firestone Motorsports

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Lexington, Ohio
Sunday, August 9, 2009 - Round 13 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Scott Dixon; 2. Ryan Briscoe; 3. Dario Franchitti; 4. Ryan Hunter-Reay; 5. Hideki Mutoh.

Race Temperatures: Track temperatures ranged from 113°-116° F (45°-47° C) track and ambient ranged from 87°- 89°F (31°- 32°C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone Racing brought all-new primary and alternate tire specifications and they did what they were supposed to do, and more. The black-sidewall primary spec lasted without issue and allowed race winner Scott Dixon to clock the race's fastest lap (which was nearly three-quarters of a second faster than anyone else today) on tires that were 30 laps/67.7 miles old. The red-sidewall alternates provided the speed advantage as expected, but Marco Andretti underlined the reds' durability by racing the entire second half of the event (43 laps/97.1 miles) on a single set. The accompanying chart outlines tire use today for all drivers.

From race winner Scott Dixon, #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It was a tough race. They definitely kept on top of me today on the radio, 'Keep pushing.' And by all means, even on the reds, the Firestones could take it. I cruised there behind Briscoe for a while and then when I needed to pick up the speed, the tires were there. It was a lot of laps (31 on the first stint) for a soft tire and they hung in, stayed under us. The primary tire lasted a bit longer and you could abuse it a little more, but the reds were definitely strong."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "What an impressive drive today for Scott Dixon, and he truly maximized the use of both his Firestone primary and alternate tires. He showed how well the alternate reds held up by going longer than anyone on that opening stint, and running some of his best laps at the end of it. That's what put him in position to pass Justin Wilson for the lead and go on to win. And how about the job Marco Andretti did, running the whole second half of the race on a single set of Firehawk reds to help him finish sixth? It speaks highly of the alternates, which featured a new variation this weekend with the right-side tires a little softer than the left sides. Not everyone earned the same great wear rate as Marco, but we're very pleased with the performance of both the primary and alternate specs this weekend."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize is awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. This week's nominees are: Marco Andretti, for going the second half of the race on one set of alternates to finish sixth; Scott Dixon, for using a perfect racing pick to pass for the lead on lap 37; and Ryan Hunter-Reay, for a very strong drive to fourth place. A fan vote this week at www.indycar.com will determine the recipient and the award winner will be named August 23 at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. During pre-race ceremonies today, Sarah Fisher received the award for her solid drive to 12th place last weekend at Kentucky.
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Post by mlittle » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:03 am

FIRESTONE
FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, Calif.
August 22-23, 2009 - Round 14 of 17

Race Distance: 184.2 mi./296.4 km (80 laps on the 2.303-mi./3.706-km permanent road course).

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 646, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);
* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 330, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);
* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 420, each entry has five sets available as needed.

IndyCar Series rules require that teams notify the league within one hour after qualifying as to which of the Firestone dry tire specs drivers will use at the start of the race. All cars must use at least one primary set and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. While Firestone Racing is bringing an all-new primary tire specification to the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, it is designed to be similar in both grip and durability to the tire raced here last year. The softer-compound alternate tires will be used at this track for the first time. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound which will provide more grip and faster lap times, yet will trade off some compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages. If circumstances require, the Firestone rain tire for this event is the softer, "street course rain" specification.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Going into our final road/street course race of the 2009 season, it is fitting to look back on the success of the first year of Firestone Racing's alternate tire program in the IndyCar Series. The alternate tires have met and in some circumstances exceeded our expectations as far as contributing to the excitement of on-track action and inviting different strategies. The series' unique knock-out style qualifying procedures at road/street events really showcase the competitive edge the alternate tires can provide. As for this event, Infineon Raceway puts a premium on grip because passing maneuvers can be a challenge at times. However, the addition of the alternate tires and the overtake-assist, or 'push to pass,' button from Honda should provide more passing opportunities and pave the way for good battles on the track."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each race, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com to vote for the nominee they believe made the most "Tire-ific" move of the race. Nominees from Mid-Ohio were Marco Andretti, Scott Dixon and Ryan Hunter-Reay. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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