IRL: Fontana: Firestone preview

Race Distance: 400 miles or 321.87 kilometers (200 laps around the 2-mile oval).

Firehawk Race Tires Supplied: Firestone delivered 924 Firehawk racing radials for use this weekend. All were produced at the Firestone Technical Center in Akron, Ohio. At the direction of Indy Racing League officials, each entered car will receive nine sets of tires (36 total) this weekend, to be used at the team's discretion throughout practice, qualifying and race sessions. The tire specification for this weekend's race is the same specification used at Michigan International Speedway earlier this season. It is based on the spec used at California in 2004, with only slight changes to the compound and construction.

Quote from Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "This is a great venue to finish up the season. The track here is long, wide and fast, which makes for a thrilling show for the fans. Our job here is to provide the drivers with a tire which is consistent and reliable enough to give them the confidence they need to race side-by-side at well over 200 mph. We've brought a proven spec this weekend, one which they've already used once this season with great results. We anticipate a tight, close race and this tire was built for just those conditions. It should be a great ending to another great IRL season."

Firestone Performance Award: During pre-race festivities on Sunday, Firestone Racing will present a $10,000 check to Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing for claiming the Firestone Performance Award three weeks ago at the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Argent Mortgage. This award commemorates Firestone's status as the only tire manufacturer to have participated in every IRL event and is traditionally given to the driver who, in each IndyCar Series event, leads the lap number corresponding to the total number of IndyCar Series races run to that point. This weekend, the leader of lap 120 will earn the award.

-firestone