IndyCar

Indy 500: Firestone 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 ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:53 PM

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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.

-credit: firestone

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