CHAMPCAR/CART: Long Beach: Bridgestone preview

Bridgestone Potenza Fast Facts
CART FedEx Championship Series
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Streets of Long Beach, Calif.
April 12-14, 2002

Race Distance: 177.12 miles (90 laps around the 1.968-mile temporary street course).

Potenza Race Tires Supplied: Seven sets of dry-condition tires ("slicks") per car, up to four sets of wet-condition tires (treaded rains) per car; more than 900 Bridgestone race tires in all are available this weekend. Produced at the Bridgestone/Firestone Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, the Potenza dry-condition tires for Long Beach come from the "softer" of the two street course specifications Bridgestone Motorsport engineers have developed for the 2002 season. These tires are, in fact, the softest compound/construction formula that Bridgestone produces for any type of CART circuit in 2002.

The Official Tire of CART: Bridgestone joins the FedEx Championship Series in 2002 as the Official Tire of CART and, as such, will supply all teams with Bridgestone Potenza racing radials. While it is Bridgestone's first year in this series, the tire manufacturer boasts an enviable racing heritage spanning four decades.

Quote from Al Speyer, Bridgestone/Firestone Motorsports Executive Director: "One of the more interesting things to watch this weekend will be how the recently approved traction control equipment on each car affects tire wear. It is quite possible tire wear could improve; that's something we intend to monitor closely. We have not yet seen a significant difference in wear rates, so we're eager to gather information at Long Beach. To the untrained eye, the Long Beach circuit may seem similar to the one we raced on last month at Monterrey, Mexico. It is, however, significantly different and proposes numerous distinct challenges. The Bridgestone Motorsport program is excited to take on this circuit as tire supplier to all teams and drivers in the main event. Rain or shine, the Potenzas should provide the traction, durability and consistency required for a great weekend of racing."

Bridgestone, Bridgestone Everywhere: Along with supplying all 20 cars in this weekend's FedEx Championship Series competition at Long Beach, Bridgestone tires also are equipped on all entries in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Challenge for the sixth consecutive year.

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