IndyCar extends Firestone contract, adjusts tire allotment

Firestone tires were used on the first Indy 500 winner, Ray Harroun’s Marmon Wasp, and the most recent, Alexander Rossi’s Andretti Autosport-Honda, and 65 other winners in between. The brand returned to Indy car racing in 1995 after a 20-year hiatus and has been sole supplier to IndyCar since 2000.  

Jay Frye, the series’ president of competition and operations said: "Firestone is part of the fabric of IndyCar and its commitment to evolving performance, innovation and safety in the Verizon IndyCar Series has been remarkable.

"The Firestone brand has been part of our sport for more than 100 years and continues to be an integral partner in the growth of IndyCar on and off the racetrack."

Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports for Bridgestone Americas added: "For more than a century, the Firestone brand has utilized racing as the ideal stage to showcase the trusted dependability of our tires. This partnership is integral to our marketing initiatives as it allows us to engage with fans via the unique, multi-faceted platform that the Verizon IndyCar Series provides, and we look forward to building upon the brand's time-tested racing legacy."

IndyCar and Firestone have added to the overall tire allotment at each event to increase the amount of on-track activity during practice sessions.

Additionally, teams will be permitted to run one set of alternate (red-sidewall) tires during Friday practice sessions at all road/street course events “to better evaluate their capabilities for qualifying and the race.”