IRL: Atlanta Firestone pre-race notes

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
Indy Racing Northern Light Series
Atlanta 500 Classic at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Ga.
April 27-28, 2001

Race distance: 200 laps, 308 miles.

Firestone tires supplied this weekend: more than 900 (based on 8 sets per car for 28 cars).
Tire staggers available: 1 (approximately 0.45 inches).

Past Firestone IRL winners at Atlanta: Greg Ray (2000).

Faster to the finish: This year's Atlanta race is eight laps shorter than previous events at the speedway. The IRL has moved to unify race lengths across the board in 2001, with 12 of its 13 events scheduled for 200 laps. The lone exception is the Gateway race (240 laps).

Al Speyer, Bridgestone/Firestone Motorsports Director, on the tire selection for Atlanta:
"This weekend marks the competition debut of what will be our most-used tire specification in 2001. The compound/construction set-up we're bringing to Atlanta will also be used at Indianapolis, Kansas City, Kentucky and Chicagoland. It features the same tire construction as we had here a year ago, but the left-side tires offer a compound with more grip than the 2000 version. The tire spec has seen extensive use in testing both at Atlanta and Indy this spring, and the teams couldn't be happier with the product. It's another example of the Firestone engineers striving to continue improving race tires that had previously received very high marks. We expect the new tire to increase what is already an extremely high level of competition this weekend and throughout the IRL season."

FIRESTONE LEADER AT HALFWAY AWARD:

Sam Hornish Jr. collected the $10,000 bonus from Firestone Racing for being the Homestead race leader at the midpoint. Hornish will officially receive the award in pre-race ceremonies Saturday before the Atlanta 500 Classic. Greg Ray earned the $10,000 bonus for leading at halfway in Phoenix.

SARAH FISHER TO CONDUCT CAR CARE CLINIC FOR AREA GIRL SCOUTS:

Walker Racing driver Sarah Fisher will appear at Atlanta area Firestone Tire & Service Centers both Sunday and Monday, discussing her racing career and basics of car care with Girl Scouts from the local communities. Times and locations:
* Firestone Center at 2389 Mall of Georgia Blvd., Buford, Ga., noon to 1 p.m. Sunday.
* Firestone Center at 6143 N. Arbor Place Blvd, Douglasville, Ga., 7-8 p.m. Monday.

-Firestone