Firestone Racing prepared for Loudon

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IZOD IndyCar Series - MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225
New Hampshire Motor Speedway - Loudon, N.H.
August 11-14, 2011 - Round 12 of 17

Podium: Firestone Firehawk

Race Distance: 238.05 miles/383.104 kilometers (225 laps around the 1.058-mile/1.703-kilometer short oval).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Sunday, August 14, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, the IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 94 and Sirius Radio 212.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
- Each entry receives 11 sets (44 total tires) for the race weekend, including three sets for Thursday's open test that must be returned that day; a total of 1,336 tires is available.

- Firestone is bringing the same tire specification to New Hampshire that was run earlier this season at Milwaukee. The spec was developed from a tire test at New Hampshire in September 2010.

- Tire stagger: A single stagger of approximately 0.50 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: "We're very excited for the IZOD IndyCar Series to be returning to New England and New Hampshire Motor Speedway after a 13-year absence. Firestone has extensive data from three race wins in the four years that our brand competed here in the late 1990s, including the first victory as a driver by current team owner and longtime Firestone friend Robbie Buhl in 1997. Coupling that data with the information gathered at last year's New Hampshire tire test allowed the Firestone race tire development team to compose what we believe will be a very competitive Firehawk tire specification for race weekend. The teams already have experience on this tire spec since it was used at the Milwaukee race in June, so they should be able to hit the track running this weekend from a tire perspective."

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 of the race, with the top vote-getter claiming the honor. The $10,000 prize from the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on August 7 goes to James Hinchcliffe for his crew's call for an early pit stop that allowed him to lead 26 laps. Hinchcliffe will be presented the check in New Hampshire pre-race ceremonies Sunday.