Firestone

Champions have relied on durable, dependable Firestone tires for more than a century. Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, was a sports marketing pioneer who saw racing as a powerful proving ground and promotional platform for his tire technology. Through that vision, Firestone tires have been part of world-class motorsports events across the globe, and racing has become a core part of the brand’s DNA.

The Firestone brand’s storied heritage in racing began May 30, 1911, when Ray Harroun’s Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500® Mile Race. In all, Firestone tires have won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” 69 times – more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. This includes Mario Andretti’s historic 1969 Indy 500 win, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Firestone merged with Bridgestone in 1988, and in 1995 the Firestone brand reentered Indy car competition following a twodecade hiatus. Now in its 20th consecutive season as the exclusive tire supplier of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Firestone is a key innovation and marketing partner for the fastest and most versatile racing series in the world. The relationship was strengthened in February 2019 with the announcement of a five-year partnership extension for the Firestone brand through 2025, as well as the announcement of plans to build a new, stateof- the-art Firestone race tire manufacturing facility in Akron, Ohio.

Led by Cara Adams, the first female chief engineer in motorsports history, the Firestone Race Tire Engineering team and more than 50 expert tire builders will produce more than 26,000 Firestone Firehawk race tires for the 2019 season, including more than 5,000 tires for use at the Indy 500 alone. In all, Firestone Racing will design, develop, and deliver more than 60 different race tire specifications to meet the extensive and varying demands of the 16 unique oval, road and street course venues in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

This time-tested dedication to improving race tire technology also drives advancements in passenger tire technology that is available to everyday drivers. The Firestone Race Tire Engineering team works side by side with passenger tire engineers at the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center in Akron, leveraging lessons from racing to improve the products featured across the Bridgestone and Firestone passenger tire lines. The collaborative relationship has also worked in reverse, as passenger tire engineers played an important role in developing the tread pattern for the new Firestone Firehawk rain race tire that was introduced last season.

The Firestone brand’s role as a key marketing partner for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES literally goes from start to finish, beginning with the second race of the 2021 season, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the season-penultimate event, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. Firestone leverages multiple channels of activation throughout the season, including fan engagement at races, sponsorships and signage at multiple venues, social and digital media programs, traditional media, and hospitality. A pillar of the program is the interactive at-track Firestone Fan Experience, which includes unique, hands-on activities that tell the Firestone story and educate fans about its tires.

You can keep up with Firestone Racing by following the team on Twitter and Instagram @FirestoneRacing.