FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
Firestone Racing
IZOD IndyCar Series – IZOD INDYCAR World Championships
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nev.
October 13-16, 2011 – Round 17 of 17
Race Distance: 300 miles/482.803 kilometers (200 laps on the 1.5-mile/2.414-km superspeedway oval).
Television/Radio Broadcast: Live – Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, the IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 94 and Sirius Radio 212.
Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* Each entry receives 10 sets (40 total tires) for the race weekend; 1,500 total tires are available.
* Firestone is bringing the same tire specification for Las Vegas that was used at the Kentucky Speedway race two weeks ago. This Firehawk spec features the same tire body construction run at Texas’ 1.5-mile oval in June, paired with new tread compounds at all four tire positions intended to provide similar grip and performance characteristics as the Texas race tires. Teams testing recently at Las Vegas ran this updated tire spec.
* Tire stagger: A single stagger of approximately 0.45 of an inch is available. Stagger is measured by the diameter difference between the right rear and left rear tires, with the right rear larger by design to make a racecar naturally want to turn left.
From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: “Here we go again with the IZOD IndyCar Series championship going down to the final race, and we could not be more excited about it. Dario Franchitti and Will Power have battled all season long and we expect the title duel could well be decided again on the final lap. Whoever wins will be a worthy champion and fine representative of the series. There will be other noteworthy competitions in the race as well – for rookie of the year, those aspiring to finish in the coveted top 10 in points and, of course, Dan Wheldon’s challenge to drive from last to first that could earn a $5 million prize. As the drivers take on these challenges, they can take comfort in the fact they will do so on a proven race tire. The identical Firestone tire specification was used two weeks ago at Kentucky, where nearly the whole first half of the race ran under wide-open green-flag conditions, and the entire field was pushing it to the limit in the thrilling closing laps. Plus, a number of teams have run successful tests on this same spec in recent weeks at Las Vegas, so we feel confident that the Firehawk tires will yet again do their part to assist in the breathtaking racing that the IndyCar Series so often displays on the 1.5-mile ovals. Whatever the outcome, it’s been a sensational season and Firestone Racing has been proud to be part of it.”
Firestone “Tire-ific” Move of the Race: Following each IZOD IndyCar Series race in 2011, Firestone Racing nominates three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com in the days after the race and vote for the nominee they believe made the most “Tire-ific” move, with the top vote-getter claiming the honor. The $10,000 prize from the Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Oct. 2 goes to Ed Carpenter for his nail-biting last-lap pass at the finish line to claim his first IndyCar Series win. Carpenter will be presented the check Sunday in IZOD INDYCAR World Championships pre-race ceremonies.
- Firestone Racing, Press Release
