Tyre supplier Firestone has unveiled a special tyre for the 100th Indianapolis 500, honouring the drivers who brought the brand 66 wins at the famous race.
The tyre brand has carried more drivers to victory than any other supplier combined. The special tyre sidewalls feature the names of every driver who has won the Indy 500 with Firestone, including Louis Meyer and Mario Andretti.
The compounds have been designed to “engage and educate both avid and casual fans” about the brand’s history at the Indy 500. The logo for the 100th running of the race ialso features on the sidewall alongside Firestone branding.
The Indy 500 tyres feature updated right-front construction, softer left-rear construction and more heat resistant left-side compounds, to improve confidence and grip in corners. More than 5,000 will be produced, for use in practice, qualifying and the race on the 29 May.
"The Firestone brand solidified its place in motorsports history at the first running of the Indianapolis 500 with (winning) driver Ray Harroun," said Lisa Boggs, director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports.
"More than a century later, we are honored to celebrate all of the legendary drivers who have taken Firestone to victory circle at the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
"From the beginning, Harvey Firestone believed in the power of motorsports and the Indianapolis 500 as a showcase for our company’s performance, innovation and technology. That legacy is at the core of everything we do and we are proud to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event."
Chief engineer and manager of race tyre development, Dale Harrigle, added: "After analysing data and feedback from some of the world’s greatest drivers during our tire test in August, we decided on a tire specification that is optimized for the most gruelling 500 miles in racing.
"The constant testing and evaluation of our race tires is in keeping with the Firestone brand’s century-long tradition of being the best today, still better tomorrow."
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