Birmingham: Firestone Racing preview

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IZOD IndyCar Series - Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Barber Motorsports Park - Leeds, Ala.
April 9-11, 2010 - Round 3 of 17

Race Distance: 207 mi./333.1 km (90 laps on the 2.3-mi./3.7-km permanent road course).

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.

Firestone is utilizing its softer, street-course rain tire at all road/street events in 2010.

Per series regulations, all cars must use at least one primary set of tires and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps, unless rain tires are used - then teams are free to use their tire allotment as they see fit. The primary (black-sidewall) tires are the same tires used at the Barber Motorsports Park open test in February, and are the same primary spec as Mid-Ohio last season. This primary spec is in the mid-range of Firestone's road course tire specification. The alternate (red-sidewall) tires are new for 2010. The Firehawk alternates are identical in body construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound which provides more grip and faster lap times, yet trades off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "After two successful open tests at this beautiful facility, and much anticipation, it's finally time for the first Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. Based on the data we have been able to collect, Firestone Racing is confident our primary Firestone Firehawk race tire specification will work well with this course's fast turns and elevation changes. While all of the teams have experience here with the primary spec, no one has yet used the alternate specification we are bringing to this event. Look for the red-sidewall Firestone Firehawk race tires to add a variable that will hopefully lead to more passing on the track. As the Official Tire of the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Firestone Racing is proud that each and every IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights driver will take to the track this inaugural race weekend on our tires."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each IndyCar Series race again in 2010, Firestone Racing will nominate 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. The $10,000 prize from St. Petersburg - to Alex Tagliani, for going 51 laps on a set of Firestone Firehawk tires - will be awarded in pre-race activities Sunday.

-source: firestone racing