Motegi: Firestone preview

FIRESTONE FIREHAWK FAST FACTS
IndyCar Series - Bridgestone Indy Japan 300
Twin Ring Motegi - Motegi, Japan
April 17-19, 2008 - Round 3

Race Distance: 300 miles/482.803 km (200 laps on the 1.5-mile/2.414-km superspeedway).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live - Saturday, April 19 at midnight EDT (late Friday night, April 18) on ESPN2, IMS Radio Network and XM Radio 145; delayed broadcast airs at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday, April 19 on ESPN.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:

* 764 dry-condition slicks; each car receives eight sets (32 tires) for the race weekend.

* Tire stagger for this weekend is set at approximately 0.43 of an inch. Stagger, which helps Indy cars turn more smoothly on oval tracks, is created by producing the right-rear tire with a slightly larger diameter than the left rear.

Following a successful 2007 performance at Motegi, Firestone Racing has selected the same Firehawk tire specification for use at this year's event. The identical spec also was used for last year's Indianapolis 500 and is slated to return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "The annual trek to Motegi for the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 is among our favorites. It lets us showcase the highly competitive IndyCar Series and the Firestone Racing program for the great Japanese fans and for our Bridgestone teammates at both the Tokyo corporate headquarters and the technical facility where the Bridgestone Formula One tires are designed and produced. For the Firestone Racing engineers and chemists making the trip, it provides the invaluable opportunity to meet face-to-face with their Bridgestone counterparts, allowing both to share data and knowledge that will further development in all of our company's open-wheel endeavors. Many Bridgestone executives will attend the Motegi race and we know they'll witness another exciting event. The Firehawk tire specification for this weekend is the same that ran so well at Twin Ring Motegi and Indianapolis in 2007. That tire spec contributed to some tremendous racing at both those tracks last year, and we expect more of the same this weekend and at Indy next month."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: This $10,000 prize will be awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. It could be relying on the Firehawks' great grip to execute a daring pass, having the confidence in the tires' durability to run an extra stint on a set to improve position, or something else. After each race, Firestone Racing officials will submit the top three "Tire-ific" candidates to www.indycar.com, where fans can to cast their votes during the ensuing week to determine the award winner.

-credit: firestone