Sebring: Goodyear Racing preview

Racing World Eyes Historic 50th Running Of 12 Hours Of Sebring

SEBRING, Fla. (March 11, 2002) - The eyes of the motorsports world will return to Florida March 16 when the 50th renewal of the 12 Hours of Sebring sports car race will be held. A record number of entries will jam the pits, hoping to add to the lore of this storied event.

And Goodyear will be there. The world's largest tiremaker has a record of unparalleled success at Sebring with 19 overall victories. No other tiremaker is close to that total.

"Sebring has always been a great test of tires and cars," said Bob Shaffer, marketing manager, sports car racing. "Obviously, we've been very successful. I think we're proudest of the fact that we've won with so many different cars and drivers through the years."

Since winning the great race for the first time with Ford in 1966, Goodyear has won at Sebring with four other carmakers (Ferrari, Toyota, Nissan and Porsche). Goodyear's 12 wins with Porsche represent the most overall wins for a tiremaker/carmaker combination.

All told, 40 drivers have won at Sebring on Goodyear tires, including A.J. Foyt, Bob Wollek, Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood.

"We've worked with some of the Hall of Fame drivers through the years," Shaffer mused.

Goodyear's success at Sebring has not been limited to the powerful proto-type racecars which annually win the race overall. The Ohio-based tiremaker has also scored numerous class wins in the 12-hour race. Last year, for example, the winning car in the GTS class raced on Goodyear tires.

Goodyear's racing partner, Corvette Racing, has been one of the dominant GTS teams at Sebring since 1999. A Corvette has started first among GTS cars in two of the last three Sebring events.

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