FUMES

Monday

Mar072011

Monday, March 7, 2011 at 12:32PM

March 9, 2011

Editor-in-Chief's Note (3/11, 1:00 p.m.): I am pleased to report that cooler heads have prevailed and that Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and INDYCAR have announced that Firestone will continue to serve as the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2013 race season. Firestone has supplied tires to the IZOD IndyCar Series since 1996. (The new agreement does not include Firestone Indy Lights, the developmental series for drivers and teams striving to reach the top level of open-wheel racing in North America. Firestone will remain as title sponsor and tire supplier of the development series through 2011.) This is great news and it will benefit everyone connected with the sport. - PMD

The withdrawal of Firestone is a huge blow to IndyCar.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. The announcement late Friday afternoon that Firestone (its parent company is Bridgestone) wasn't going to renew its relationship with the IZOD IndyCar Series after this season is a huge blow to all involved in the sport. Just when CEO Randy Bernard was starting to show some meaningful progress and gain some real momentum for the IZOD IndyCar Series heading into what should be a breakout year in 2012 he now has to deal with securing one of the most critical components in any racing series, and that is identifying a new tire supplier-partner.

To say that tire company support of a racing series is essential doesn't do justice to the role that tire companies play and have played in racing throughout history. Though automobile manufacturer involvement may be absolutely critical to the success of most racing series, it could be argued that without the foundation provided by a key tire partner most auto manufacturers wouldn't be interested to begin with. That's because supplying tires to a racing series with the scale and the track diversity of the IZOD IndyCar Series is a difficult and monumentally challenging endeavor, requiring vast technical and human resources as well as boatloads - and I mean boatloads - of money.

And it doesn't stop there, either. A tire manufacturer not only has to have the engineering capability and plethora of resources, it has to have the marketing will to go well beyond the technical aspect of a potential partnership with a racing series and understand that the involvement requires an extra dimension of promotion and advertising as well. For instance Firestone/Bridgestone not only did a tremendous job of keeping IndyCar on the public's radar screens over the last few years, in a lot of ways they carried the series' public presence in the national media with their race-win ads that ran with a consistent frequency.

My perception of Randy Bernard is that he's a talented, creatively engaged force who has the best interests of the sport in mind. He's had to deal with a tremendously steep learning curve while moving the sport forward at the same time. It has been a tall task but I have to give him high marks for the most part, because he's done an excellent job. (The $5 million bonus for the season-ending Las Vegas race is highly debatable, but overall Randy Bernard has made a hugely positive difference for IndyCar.)

That all said, identifying a new tire partner for the IZOD IndyCar Series will be Randy Bernard's toughest task yet.

I believe he's up to it, and it's in everyone's best interest - the teams, the drivers, the manufacturers and the fans - that he succeeds.

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
Sebring, Florida, March 26, 1966. Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby talk during a night pit stop at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Gurney put his No. 2 Shelby American-entered 427 cu. in. Ford GT Mk II (chassis no. 1031) on the pole with a time of 2:54.600, but he and co-driver Jerry Grant encountered late-race issues and when Gurney pushed his racer over the finish line at the end of the race the entry was disqualified. The race was won by the No. 1 Shelby American-entered 427 cu. in. Ford GT-X1 Roadster (chassis no. 110) driven by Ken Miles/Lloyd Ruby, followed by the No. 3 Holman & Moody Ford GT Mk II 427 (chassis no. 1032) driven by Walt Hansgen/Mark Donohue, with the No. 19 Essex Wire Corporation-sponsored Ford GT40 (chassis no. 1026) driven by Skip Scott/Peter Revson coming home third.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.