IndyCar
IRL: Nazareth: Firestone preview
Race Distance: 225 miles (225 laps around the mile oval). Firehawk Race Tires Supplied: Firestone delivered 704 Firehawk racing radials for use this weekend. Each IndyCar Series entry receives up to seven sets of tires (28 total) to use as its ...
Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:32 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Race Distance: 225 miles (225 laps around the mile oval).
Firehawk Race Tires Supplied: Firestone delivered 704 Firehawk racing radials for use this weekend. Each IndyCar Series entry receives up to seven sets of tires (28 total) to use as its team sees fit during practice, qualifying and the race. Firestone Racing engineers selected a short-oval tire specification very similar to the Firehawks used at Nazareth in 2002. This year's choice, which performed quite well at Phoenix in March, features a slightly more durable compound formula on the right-side tires than last year.
Stagger Helps the Cars Go 'Round: Firestone engineers purposely design the right rear tire with a circumference slightly larger than that of the left rear tire for oval competition. The size differential is minor - just 0.60 of an inch this weekend - but the effect, called "stagger," helps the IndyCars turn left more naturally and smoothly, and decreases the stresses on car and driver alike.
Quote from Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "Firestone takes great pride in again being title sponsor for the Nazareth race, the third Firestone-sponsored IRL event in the past six weeks. This race weekend is special for us because it takes place in the hometown of the Andretti family that is dear to the Firestone program. We're extremely honored that Michael Andretti agreed to be Grand Marshal for the Firestone Indy 225. It will help us pay homage to one of the great racers of our time. Another good friend of Firestone, actor and race fan Anthony Edwards, will wave the green flag as honorary starter. As Michael Andretti would tell you, Nazareth is a tricky mile oval that demands the best of a race tire, and we're confident the Firehawks selected for this weekend are up to the task. We've gone with a slightly 'harder' compound on the right side to better stand up to the tight corners and elevation changes around the track. This tire was highly praised at the Phoenix race this year and drivers who tested recently at Nazareth praised its abilities as well. We're excited about the prospects of another fast-paced and highly competitive IndyCar Series weekend that features the Firestone name."
Firestone Performance Award: In recognition of the fact that the tire maker has competed in every IRL race, Firestone Racing awards $10,000 at each 2003 event to the leader of the lap that coincides with the number of IndyCar Series races that have taken place. Since this weekend's race is the 84th in series history, the leader of lap 84 Sunday will earn the bonus.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article CHAMPCAR/CART: Montreal: NHR drivers pre-race notes
Next article CHAMPCAR/CART: Montreal: Bridgestone preview
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti embraces new role at 2025 IndyCar season opener: "No more headaches"
IndyCar
IndyCar
The Thermal Club
Michael Andretti embraces new role at 2025 IndyCar season opener: "No more headaches"
Marco Andretti set for Indianapolis 500 return in 2024
IndyCar
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500
Marco Andretti set for Indianapolis 500 return in 2024
Jenson Button, Marcus Ericsson complete WTR Andretti roster for Daytona
IMSA
IMSA
Petit Le Mans Road Atlanta
Jenson Button, Marcus Ericsson complete WTR Andretti roster for Daytona
Latest news
Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Spy shots of 2027 NASCAR Ford Mustang testing at Charlotte, but what's different?
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
Five key takeaways from F1's big African Grand Prix reveal in Rwanda
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 4 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 5 h
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
Feature
Discover prime content
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe