2009 IRL Reports: Firestone Racing

IRL Team reports for the 2009 IRL season

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2009 IRL Reports: Firestone Racing

Post by mlittle » Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:24 pm

Firestone qualifying highlight: Alternate tires made their IndyCar Series debut this weekend and, as expected, were the talk of qualifying. Each car had two sets of "reds" at its disposal, so teams had to decide whether to save a new set for the Firestone Fast Six session. Justin Wilson and Dario Franchitti were able to save a new set for the Fast Six, but Graham Rahal still snuck away with the pole while using the Firestone Firehawk primary (black-sidewall) tires. Rahal becomes the youngest pole winner in IndyCar Series history, at 20 years, 90 days.

Qualifying temperatures: Track ranged from 98.-114. F (37.-46. C) and ambient from 74.-75. F (23o.-24o. C) ambient.

From pole winner Graham Rahal, #02 McDonald's Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It's great to get pole. We certainly didn't know what to expect because we had the Firestone primary tires to run at the end, and we saw a couple
other guys had the alternates. Both the Firestone tires - the primes and the reds - they performed well today. To be honest, the reds were quicker, no doubt about it. I think they were probably a good four- to five-tenths (of a second per lap) quicker without a problem, and maybe a little more if you pushed 'em. At the end of the day (in the Firestone Fast Six), we did a pretty good run on our primaries to get the pole. I think if we'd had another set of reds then, we would have been even quicker. I think the reds worked extremely well, very consistent. I really don't think tire degradation, reds vs. blacks, is going to be a problem tomorrow."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "We're really happy with the performance of both the Firestone primary and alternate tires in qualifying today. The introduction of the alternates led to a variety of strategies and performance, which is exactly what we were looking for. We know the alternates will play a big role in tomorrow's race and can't wait to see how it will turn out."
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Post by mlittle » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:57 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Albert Whitted Airport and Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Sunday, April 5, 2009 - Round 1 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Ryan Briscoe; 2. Ryan Hunter-Reay; 3. Justin Wilson; 4. Dario Franchitti; 5. Tony Kanaan.

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 110o.-126o. F (43o.-52o. C) and ambient from 81-82o.F (27o.-28o. C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: The debut of the Firestone alternate tire program to the IndyCar Series caused a variety of strategy options involving tire use. Drivers ran stints as long as 35 laps (63 miles) on the primary (black-sidewall) specification and 37 laps (66.6 miles) on the alternate (red-sidewall) spec. Justin Wilson displayed the potential durability of the Firehawk alternates by leading the first 35 laps on a set of "reds." A chart detailing each driver's tire use for the race is on the following page.

From race winner Ryan Briscoe, #6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It was pretty exciting. We had the different tire compounds, which was a bit surprising because the 'reds' seemed a bit more consistent at the end of the stint for me. I saw an opportunity to pass Justin on that late restart, and then it was just a matter of bringing it home. We were one of the quickest cars out there today and Roger (Penske) called a great strategy. I've always led laps here and managed to stick it in the wall or something, so this is pretty satisfying."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "The whole weekend was picture perfect for us - picture-perfect weather, picture-perfect introduction of the Firestone primary and alternate tires, and an incredible amount of strategy that played out in the race due to the tire choices. Once again, we saw exemplary performance from both the primaries and alternates. Both specs displayed tremendous competitiveness and durability. Most notable to me was Justin Wilson's first stint on the alternates when they held up really well and kept him in the lead under tremendous pressure. True congratulations are in order for the entire podium. Ryan Briscoe and Team Penske did a sensational job to get the win; Ryan Hunter-Reay drove a great race and put in the longest stint of anyone on the alternates (37 laps) to give Vision Racing its best-ever finish; and Justin Wilson finished off a very impressive weekend in third place for Dale Coyne."

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, for taking the heat for the first 35 laps on alternate tires and not surrendering the lead; Ryan Hunter-Reay, whose charge from 14th starting spot to finish second included a 37-lap stint on alternates; and Ryan Briscoe, who leaned on his Firestone primary tires on the lap 86 restart to make the decisive pass for lead. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This race's winner will be named at the next race.
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Post by mlittle » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:10 pm

Firestone Racing
Long Beach Preview


~~~FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series -- Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Streets of Long Beach, California
April 17-19, 2009 -- Round 2 of 17

Race Distance: 163.3 mi./262.805 km (85 laps on the 1.968-mi./3.167-km temporary street circuit).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live -- Sunday, April 19, at 3:30 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: 702, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);

* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 342, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);

* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 436, 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's street-course tires in general feature the softest constructions and tread compounds available to assist cornering in the slow, tight turns and to enhance acceleration upon exiting the turns. The alternate tires 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 pleased to return to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as the Official Tire of what is sure to become one of the IndyCar Series' premier events. This may mark the first year for the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series to race here, but the Firestone Racing team brings many years of experience to this track. In fact, Long Beach is the site of the Firestone brand's return to American open-wheel racing back in 1991 after a long hiatus, in a Firestone Indy Lights race won by none other than current IndyCar Series team owner Eric Bachelart. Long Beach also saw the debut of the alternate tire concept back in 2004. We are bringing primary and alternate tire specifications to Long Beach with a wider gap between the two than we saw at the last event in St. Pete. It will once again be very interesting to monitor how teams and drivers utilize strategy and tire management throughout the weekend during qualifying and the race to try to maximize their advantage over competitors."

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 St. Petersburg were Ryan Briscoe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Justin Wilson. The $10,000 prize winner will be announced in Sunday's pre-race activities.
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Post by mlittle » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:29 pm

Firestone qualifying highlight: Alternate tires returned to the place they were "born" (the concept debuted at the 2004 Long Beach Grand Prix), and they once again added a great deal of excitement to qualifying. Each car had two sets of "reds" at its disposal, and teams opted to use new, "sticker" alternate tires to advance to the fast twelve and Firestone Fast Six qualifying sessions rather than saving them for the final ten-minute shootout for the pole. 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 113o.-119o. F (45o.-48o. C) track and from 69o.-80o. F (20o.-26o. C) ambient.

From pole winner Will Power, #12 Verizon Wireless Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "This crew has been great - it's just classic Penske. I changed to a whole new car this weekend, and it was prepared really, really well. The red tires were very good today. I ran my fastest lap on a set of alternates. Both tires were really consistent, and I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow!"

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "It is so great to see all the cars and stars of the IndyCar Series take to the legendary streets of Long Beach under perfect skies and in front of lots of enthusiastic fans. Today's qualifying rounds saw drivers gain as much as a little over a second on alternate tires versus the primaries, which is, as we expected, a wider gap than we saw at the last event in St. Petersburg. Temperatures tomorrow are expected to be warmer than they have been so far this weekend, so that could raise tire management concerns. However, I am confident that there will be teams and drivers who will get great performance out of both the primary and alternate Firestone Firehawk tires."
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Post by mlittle » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:07 am

Firestone Racing
Long Beach Report


Race Temperatures: Temps ranged from 120o.-125o. F (48o.-55o. C) track and from 90-94o.F (32o.-34o. C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: As expected, there was a greater gap between the primary (black sidewall) and alternate (red sidewall) tire specifications at Long Beach than we saw two weeks ago at St. Petersburg. Dario Franchitti's team played the tire strategy perfectly, starting the race on alternates and pitting early to change to the primaries, on which they felt the car was a little better balanced. 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: "It was a lot of fun! The race came down to the timing of my first pit stop, and Chip [Ganassi] and the team called it perfectly, as the 'reds' were just starting to go off a little bit. The pace of the reds was fabulous, and they did just what we expected. They were very, very fast, but they didn't have the longevity that the primary Firestone Firehawk tires did. The primaries were consistent, and we ran and we ran with them with no drop-off whatsoever."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Today we saw another race where tire strategy played a big role in the outcome. Dario and his team played the tire choice and pit timing to their maximum benefit, so congratulations to them for winning the very first 'unified' Long Beach Grand Prix. From Firestone Racing's perspective, the tires performed well, with teams gaining as much as a second per lap short-term speed advantage on the alternate tires. I'd like to point out that we used the same alternate tire here that we took to St. Petersburg. There were a lot of comments about marbles at St. Pete, but they were no issue whatsoever here in Long Beach."

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: Dario Franchitti, for pulling away for the victory on primary tires; Danica Patrick, who charged from 22nd to 4th, and Alex Tagliani, who tracked down Ryan Hunter-Reay for a last-lap pass that secured a top-10 finish. 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 at Kansas Speedway.
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Post by mlittle » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:38 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Road Runner Turbo Indy 300
Kansas Speedway - Kansas City, Kansas
April 25-26, 2009 - Round 3 of 17

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

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, April 25, at 4 p.m. EDT on VERSUS, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* 848 dry-condition slicks; each car receives eight sets (32 tires) for the race weekend.

Developed during testing at Chicagoland late last season, these tires are designed to have similar grip and slightly better wear than the tires used at the 2009 Homestead open test. The additional durability is due to a slight compound change to all four positions. This tire was designed to withstand high superspeedway temperatures and speeds while providing consistent grip for Kansas' multiple racing grooves.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "This year is a bit different, as we're three races into the season but looking at our first oval event and the only oval race prior to the Indianapolis 500. That puts even more emphasis on the data and experience teams will gather at Kansas Speedway this weekend. The tires we are bringing are the latest iteration of Firestone Racing's successful superspeedway tire. The constant high speeds and high temperatures that superspeedway specifications must withstand mean that we are continually striving to improve the performance of our big-oval Firestone Firehawk racing slicks. This tire is nearly identical to the one used at the Homestead open test earlier this season, so we are confident that drivers will be satisfied with their performance so they can focus their attention on all-important oval car setups."

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 Long Beach race (nominees are Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick and Alex Tagliani) will be named in pre-race ceremonies Sunday.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:29 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Road Runner Turbo Indy 300
Kansas Speedway - Kansas City, KS
Sunday, April 26, 2009 - Round 3 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Scott Dixon; 2. Helio Castroneves; 3. Tony Kanaan; 4. Ryan Briscoe; 5. Danica Patrick.

Race Temperatures: Temps ranged from 84o.-80o. F (28o.-26o. C) track and held steady at 77o. F (25o. C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone Racing brought an all-new superspeedway specification to Kansas that was developed based on testing at Chicagoland late last season. The tire was designed to produce additional grip and durability, and it achieved those results on track today.

From race winner Scott Dixon, #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "I have to hand it to the Target guys, they did a fantastic job. They trimmed the car out, and we were trimmed to win. It was definitely a challenging day for Firestone, I think, just with the wind, but the tires were fantastic - very consistent, and great grip out there. With these tires, we were able to carry the speed that we needed to win."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "Firestone Racing is pleased with the performance of our Firestone Firehawk tires today, especially considering the exceedingly windy conditions. We set out to bring an all-new tire that would provide additional grip and durability compared to prior superspeedway specifications, and these tires certainly delivered today. All the drivers had their hands full with wind gusts of over 30 mph, so the extra grip and durability were particularly appreciated under these circumstances. Congratulations to Scott Dixon for a hard-fought win and to Target Chip Ganassi Racing for their third Kansas victory in a row."

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, Danica Patrick received the award for last week's event in Long Beach for her charge from 22nd to 4th. This week's nominees are: Scott Dixon for his impressive margin of victory; Helio Castroneves, for working to the front of the field twice and improving from 21st to 2nd; and Dan Wheldon, for fearlessly working the high side of the track. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the recipient. This race's winner will be named at the Indianapolis 500.
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Post by mlittle » Wed May 06, 2009 9:45 am

Firestone Racing
93rd Indianapolis 500 Preview


FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Ind.
May 5-24, 2009 - Round 4 of 17

Race Distance: 500 miles/804.672 km (200 laps on the 2.5-mile/4.023-km superspeedway).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, May 24 at noon ET on ABC, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211. Qualifying days air live noon-6 p.m. ET on VERSUS.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* Full-month entries receive 35 sets (140 total tires) to use for practice, qualifying and the race. Short program entries receive 24 sets (96 tires) for the month. Drivers participating in the rookie orientation program receive four additional sets (16 tires) for the two days of ROP, and veterans taking a refresher test receive two additional sets (eight tires) to use in the ROP sessions. In total, Firestone has 4,900 dry-condition slicks available.

* One tire stagger of approximately 0.32 of an inch is available for Indianapolis. Stagger helps Indy cars turn more smoothly on oval tracks and is created by producing the right-rear tire with a slightly larger diameter than the left rear.

* Firestone is bringing a new Indy tire specification following a successful IMS tire test in September 2008. The new spec features improved compounds for all four positions and a slight change to the right-front tire body construction to aid in reducing understeer.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "The racing world will focus on this palace of motorsports for the next three weeks, and with good reason. From rookie orientation through four grueling days of qualifying, to Carburetion Day practice and the great race itself, the Indianapolis 500 is like no other. The traditions, the emotions and the unexpected combine to make Indy the transcending event it has become - and Firestone is proud to play a part. We'll be honored come May 24th to crown the 60th Indianapolis 500 champion on Firestone tires, which is more than all other tire manufacturers put together. To reach that life-changing moment, all the Indy drivers this month will compete on a new Firehawk tire specification. The Firestone Racing engineers and chemists have fine-tuned the tire spec that performed so well and without issue the past two years on this demanding racetrack. We anticipate the newest generation Firehawks will continue that trusted tradition by giving all Indy drivers the reliable durability, consistency and top speeds they have come to expect from their Firestone tires."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This 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. After each race, Firestone submits three "Tire-ific" candidates to www.indycar.com, where fans cast their votes during the ensuing week to determine the winner. The prize for the Indy 500 "Tire-ific" move is $20,000, double the amount for any other race. The "Tire-ific" winner from the April 26 Kansas race - nominees are Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon - will be announced during May 22 Carburetion Day festivities at Indy.
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Post by mlittle » Fri May 22, 2009 2:37 pm

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Announces Title Sponsorship Of 2009 IndyCar Series Season Finale At Homestead-Miami Speedway

October 10 event will be named the Firestone Indy 300

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 21, 2009) - With some of the closest competition in motorsports, the IndyCar Series championship inevitably seems to come down to the wire - and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) looks forward to being a part of the excitement surrounding the crowning of this year's champion by serving as title sponsor for the IndyCar Series championship finale, held for the first time at Homestead-Miami Speedway, just outside Miami, Fla. The Firestone Indy 300 will be contested on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

"The past three IndyCar Series championships have been decided on the last lap of the last race of the season," commented Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "In the final lap of this year's Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, just as they have on every other lap this season, drivers will rely on their Firestone Firehawk tires to carry them to the checkered flag. It is fitting that this year's title winner will be crowned at a track that presents Firestone Racing engineers with one of their greatest challenges, as whoever emerges on top, both in the race and in this year's championship, will truly have earned the rewards considering the diversity of the IndyCar Series schedule and its deep field of talented drivers. We are proud to see the Firestone brand associated with the best of the best."

"The Firestone brand is synonymous with IndyCar Series championships, and Homestead-Miami Speedway has become synonymous with crowning motorsports champions," said Curtis Gray, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway. "As we make history in 2009 as the first and only track ever to host all six of North America's premier motorsports championships, Firestone will play an integral role in building both the Firestone Indy 300 and Firestone Indy Lights championship finales. What an opportunity it is for us to partner with an absolute pillar of the sport."

The Firestone Indy 300 will be part of the Indy Racing League's championship weekend celebration, as the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights champion will also be crowned during Homestead-Miami Speedway's "SpeedJam" weekend, October 9-10. The Firestone Indy 300 will air live on VERSUS from 4-7 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 10, while the Firestone Indy Lights championship finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway will also air live on VERSUS on Friday, October 9 (time TBD). Tickets for the Firestone Indy 300 are available at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/tickets, or by calling 1-866-409-RACE (7223).

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.
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Post by mlittle » Sun May 24, 2009 3:08 pm

Indy 500: Firestone Carb Day practice report


Firestone Firehawks Faring Fast and Fine for the Indy 500

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 22, 2009) - With around 34,000 IndyCar Series miles already logged this month, the Firestone Firehawk race tires have proven they are more than ready for Sunday's "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Through today's Carburetion Day practice, more than 13,500 laps have been completed during practice and qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That equates to at least 33,750 car miles around the 2.5-mile oval, but since there are four tires on each car, Firestone has really accumulated in the neighborhood of 135,000 miles of invaluable tire data. The results thus far have been impressive.

"Overall we are very pleased with the tire performance this May," said Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "As is always the case, some teams are really dialed in and others are still looking for the optimum set-up. We try to help all of them as much as we can. The wear rate on the Firestone Firehawk tires has been very good and, if anything, the Firestone tire engineers tell me that the track is less abrasive this year than last. We're looking forward to a fantastic race with plenty of close competition, which the fans are sure to enjoy."

Many IndyCar Series drivers are in agreement with the Firehawks' performance and how it bodes for an exciting race to celebrate the speedway's centennial.

"We wanted to make sure we know what to do during the race so we tried some different set-ups," said pole sitter Helio Castroneves from Team Penske, who was fastest today with a lap of 223.920 mph. "Certainly we showed that we have a very, very strong car, a very, very strong team. ... Obviously today was a little hotter, but as the track is getting more grip, the tires seemed to help and held together. It's going to definitely be a tough one for everyone, but especially on new tires, Firestone was awesome. They're holding up on the long run, but that depends on the set-up of the car. Right now we feel really, really good, so I am confident. Not overconfident but confident."

"The tires are great," added Mario Moraes, third fastest today (222.951) in the #5 Azul Tequila/Votorantim/KV Racing Dallara/Honda. "They run really strong for around 29 laps. That is nice for the race because we probably won't run more than 30 laps on a stint. We're going to have a good race, and the tires are going to work well. Great work!"

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal, eighth quick today (221.771) in the #02 McDonald's car, was pleased, too. "The car felt super-nice and pretty comfortable. We definitely have the pace right now to run with the big boys. Everything with the Firestone tires seems to be all right. You get a little bit of degradation, but I think our tires are hanging on better than most, and we're pretty happy with that."

There's already been one winner this month on Firestone tires. Wade Cunningham won today's Firestone Freedom 100 in the Firestone Indy Lights series, and he too raved about the performance of his Firestone tires.

""We had a little bit of concern going into the event," Cunningham said. "Indianapolis is a very abrasive track, but the tires were there for me at the end. I was worried about the fronts, but I was able to drive through JR (Hildebrand)'s wake in the second-to-last lap and hold on, and they gave me the confidence to go into turns one and two flat. That's what we did, and that contributed to the win."
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Post by mlittle » Tue May 26, 2009 10:39 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Speedway, Ind.
Sunday, May 24, 2009 - Round 4 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Helio Castroneves; 2. Dan Wheldon; 3. Danica Patrick; 4. Townsend Bell; 5. Will Power.

Race Temperatures: Temps ranged from 107-101 (41-o.-38o. C) track and from 85-87o. F (29-30o. C) ambient.

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone Racing brought an all-new specification to Indianapolis that performed extremely well all month long. With the warmest temperatures we've experienced this month, the tires held up over extended stints.

From race winner Helio Castroneves, #3 Team Penske Honda/Firestone: "It was incredible. We lost the lead after yellows and then the one pit stop we had some issues. But we kept really calm, kept cool. The car was really beautiful. It was REALLY fast out front. I had only one tire issue today and that was a cut tire because Tony (Kanaan) had a horrible accident right in front of me. Other than that they were just awesome. The tires held fantastic. Thank you so much to Firestone for giving me an opportunity to win my third Indy 500."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "First and foremost, a hearty congratulations to Helio Castroneves and Team Penske for a stunning performance - not just in today's race but all month long. Today was very warm, but even under those conditions, the tire wear rate was even better than we had anticipated. In fact, Helio's teammate Will Power ran 49 laps on a single set of tires, which is proof positive that tires are not an issue if you have the right setup. This is a great moment for Firestone, as Helio's win is the first of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Centennial Era. Firestone is celebrating 100 years of racing along with the Brickyard. And Helio has a special place in the Firestone family, as he was the 60th driver to take the checkered flag at the Indy 500 on Firestone tires."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This 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. Firestone Racing submits three nominees to www.indycar.com, where fans can vote through the ensuing Wednesday to determine the winner. Nominees for the Indy 500 and its $20,000 prize are: Will Power for running 49 laps on a single set of Firestone tires; Townsend Bell for masterful passing that moved him from 22nd to fourth; and Helio Castroneves for becoming the 60th driver to win the Indianapolis 500 on Firestone tires. On Friday, Helio Castroneves received the $10,000 award for winning the Tire-ific award at the April 26 Kansas race, when he charged from 21st starting position to finish second.
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Post by mlittle » Thu May 28, 2009 2:31 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - ABC Supply Co. Inc./A.J. Foyt 225
The Milwaukee Mile - West Allis, Wis.
May 30-31, 2009 - Round 5 of 17

Race Distance: 225 miles/362.102 km (225 laps on the 1-mile/1.609-km oval).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, May 31, at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* 912 dry-condition slicks; each car receives eight sets (32 tires) for the race weekend.

The Milwaukee tire is a new tire on both right and left sides. Compared to the Milwaukee tire from last year, this tire has a new left side compound, with a new front tire construction both left and right side in an attempt to reduce understeer. This tire was developed at our Richmond test at the end of 2008.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Firestone Racing is looking forward to once again following the Indianapolis 500 with a trip up to the historic Milwaukee Mile. After a long month that culminated in yet another exciting event in Indy, it is great to carry that momentum into another race with a great tradition and long history. Short ovals present unique challenges to Firestone Racing engineers, but we tested at the three-quarter mile track at Richmond last year and identified a few areas in which we can improve our short oval tire specification. The drivers really seem to love racing on the 1-mile flat oval at Milwaukee, and an improved tire spec designed to produce less understeer should increase their enjoyment of the experience."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $20,000 prize (increased by $10,000 for the Indianapolis 500
only) 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 Indy 500 (nominees are Helio Castroneves, Townsend Bell and Will Power) will be named in pre-race ceremonies Sunday.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:19 am

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 94o.-89o. F (34o.-32o. C) and ambient from 90o.-86o. F (32o.-30o.C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone Racing brought a proven superspeedway tire specification (previously run at Kansas in April) and it held up tremendously during the fast-paced event tonight that featured pedal to the metal racing for nearly all of the 228 laps.

From race winner Helio Castroneves, #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "It was an incredible day for Team Penske. Having first and second in Texas is not easy, so that's a compliment for everyone. Great pit stops, the guys put me up front,s and in the end it was 50 laps, full throttle. The Firestone tires were fantastic. It was the 50 longest laps that I have to go through, but everything held up pretty well. After the last pit stop, I never lifted (off the throttle). It was just amazing, I just kept going through the whole stint without lifting. The tires were awesome, and without the whole combination, I wouldn't be able to do what I did."

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Congratulations to Team Penske on an impressive 1-2 display tonight. Ryan Briscoe dominated the first 150 laps, then Helio Castroneves took over. There was plenty of the exciting racing that we've come to expect at Texas behind the leaders, but this was a night that the Penske drivers were not going to be denied. With just the two caution periods tonight, this race was flat out the entire way. The drivers were pushing themselves and their equipment to the limit, and the Firestone Firehawks rose to the challenge. These 1.5-mile, high-banked ovals are always challenging for the race tires, but we can confidently say that the Firehawks did the job once again."

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. Tonight's nominees are: Ryan Briscoe, who used his Firehawks to the fullest in building a commanding 12-second lead two-thirds through the race; Helio Castroneves, whose crew got him out of the pits first on the crucial final stop; and Danica Patrick, who made a breathtaking inside pass of Dan Wheldon for fifth place on lap 192. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the winner, who will be announced in pre-race ceremonies at Iowa on June 21. Prior to tonight's race, Scott Dixon received the "Tire-ifc" award for his late pass for the lead last week at Milwaukee.
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Post by mlittle » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:30 pm

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer
Iowa Speedway - Newton, Iowa
Sunday, June 21, 2009 - Round 7 of 17

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

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 99°-114° F (37°-46° C) and ambient from 84°-90° F (29°-32°C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone brought a proven tire specification (the same spec ran at Iowa in 2008) and it provided great grip and durability. Dario Franchitti relied on the grip during his key in and out laps surrounding his final pit stop that put him in the lead. Tony Kanaan displayed the Firehawks' tremendous durability by logging 106 laps (95 miles) on his initial set.

From race winner Dario Franchitti, #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "The Firestone tires are always great, and we keep throwing challenges at them. This track is one of the biggest challenges, I think, with the massive loadings that go through it and the fact we're trying to use a superspeedway tire on a short oval. These tires work fantastically well on all types of track, but because of the particular stuff that we put these cars through here, Firestone has to bring a superspeedway tire. That means that on cold tires, it's pretty interesting. But when they get up to temperature, they're perfect. As usual, Firestone came up trumps."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "The Iowa Speedway fans really support this event and they deserve a great show, which they saw today. There were lots of lead changes and magnificent racing action, topped off by the sensational last stop for Dario Franchitti that put him out front. Dario really had to lean on his Firestone tires on the critical in and out laps to get ahead of Ryan Briscoe, but they held up for him just as expected. We're quite pleased with the Firehawks' performance this weekend. As Dario mentioned, this short oval acts much more like a superspeedway when it comes to loading on the tires, so our Iowa tire is much more closely related to our superspeedway family of race tires. It's the second straight year we've run this specification at Iowa, and for the second straight year it showed very well."

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. Today's nominees are: Dario Franchitti, whose frenetic in and out laps, coupled with quick pit work, put him in the lead on lap 197; Tony Kanaan, who opted for fuel only on an early stop and confidently put 106 laps on his first set of Firehawks; and Tomas Scheckter, who boldly passed six cars on the outside on the first lap, on his way to a sixth-place finish. Fans can vote through Wednesday at www.indycar.com to determine the winner, who will be announced in pre-race ceremonies at Iowa on June 21. Prior to today's race, Danica Patrick received the "Tire-ifc" award for her late pass of Dan Wheldon at Texas on June 6.
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Post by mlittle » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:01 am

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK RACE REPORT
IndyCar Series - SunTrust Indy Challenge
Richmond International Raceway - Richmond, Va.
Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Round 8 of 17

Top-5 Finishers: 1. Scott Dixon; 2. Dario Franchitti; 3. Graham Rahal; 4. Hideki Mutoh; 5. Danica Patrick.

Race Temperatures: Track ranged from 91o.-87o. F (33o.-31o. C) and ambient from 81o.-78o. F (27o.-26o.C).

Firestone Tire Performance Recap: Firestone developed a new tire for Richmond this year and it accomplished its goal of reducing understeer. The Firehawk specification also proved incredibly durable - numerous drivers put more than 100 laps on a set, topped by the 135 race laps (101.25 miles) that Tony Kanaan logged on his initial set.

From race winner Scott Dixon, #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: "My Firestones were fantastic, super consistent, super grippy. But it was definitely tough to pass, so it was definitely at a premium to stay up front and make sure you had some good tires underneath you."

From Joe Barbieri, Manager, Firestone Racing: "Tire durability was a key tonight, as many drivers ran long stints on their Firehawks without issue. Tony Kanaan and his Andretti Green crew paid us the extreme compliment of having the confidence to run nearly half the race on the same set of Firehawks, and the tires were still there for him at the end of the stint. By the same token, we're aware that there was not as much passing and side-by-side racing tonight as we've seen in some past Richmond races. As always, Firestone Racing will work in concert with the IndyCar Series and the track to make any changes possible to improve the racing here in future years."

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. Today's nominees are: Tony Kanaan, for double-stinting his first set of Firehawks for 135 laps, helping elevate him to sixth place; Hideki Mutoh, for his 108-lap first stint that included 74 laps in the lead, on his way to finishing fourth; and Graham Rahal, who finished third, a career best on an oval. Prior to tonight's race, Tomas Scheckter received the "Tire-ific" award for making an outside pass of six cars on the opening lap last weekend at Iowa.
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