Archives for Firestone PR

Bridgestone Americas Announces Realignment of its Firestone Race Tire Development Team

Posted by  on Thursday, August 18th 2016     

Bridgestone Americas Announces Realignment of its Firestone Race Tire Development Team

Changes include the addition of Peterman and promotion of Adams

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 18, 2016) – Bridgestone Americas today announced that the company is reorganizing the Race Tire Development (RTD) arm of its Firestone Racing program, adding manufacturing expertise while reaffirming the brand’s commitment to innovation and the Verizon IndyCar® Series. Changes to the team include the following:

  • Dan Peterman, currently Plant Engineer at Bridgestone’s Passenger Radial Tire (PSR) plant in Aiken, South Carolina, has been named Manager of Race Tire Development/Production and Building Services. He will relocate to Akron, Ohio.
  • Dale Harrigle, currently Chief Engineer and Manager of Race Tire Development, has accepted a management position within Bridgestone’s Consumer Tire Trade Group, effective at the conclusion of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
  • Cara Adams, currently Senior Project Engineer, Race Tire Development, has been named Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports and Manager, Race Tire Development.

“Dale is an innovator in the world of race tire design and he has been instrumental in the success of Firestone Racing for more than two decades. The program would not be where it is today without his expertise, leadership and sacrifice,” said Lisa Boggs, director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “Dan and Cara have demonstrated the knowledge, experience and leadership necessary to ensure a seamless transition and to continue our tradition of excellence.”

Effective immediately, Peterman will assume the newly formed role of Manager of Race Tire Development/Production and Building Services, where he will oversee all aspects of race tire development and manufacturing. He has more than 25 years of manufacturing experience at a number of Bridgestone tire manufacturing facilities, most recently serving as Plant Engineer at the Aiken PSR plant. He is a graduate of the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.

At the conclusion of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season, Adams will take over the role of Chief Engineer and Manager of Race Tire Development, replacing Harrigle.

“I’m honored to lead our engineering team in the future development of tires for Indy car racing and into the next chapter of Firestone Racing’s storied history,” Adams said. “Perhaps one of Dale’s biggest contributions to our sport is the expert team of engineers and chemists developed during his tenure. Dan, our entire team of engineers, chemists and technicians and I look forward to applying those teachings as we continue to provide world-class tires to our racing family.”

Adams began her career with Bridgestone in 2003 as an engineer in the Tire/Vehicle Dynamics department. She joined the Race Tire Development team in 2007, where she developed road and street course tires, and currently oversees the brand’s super- speedway tire development, including those used in the Indianapolis 500®. She also manages the race team’s Force and Moment testing program, working with teams and manufacturers to develop tire models used in race simulations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Akron.

Harrigle, who joined Race Tire Development when the Firestone brand returned to open-wheel racing in 1994, brings 22 years of race tire development expertise to his new position, where he will lead a team responsible for developing light truck, SUV and winter tires for the consumer tire replacement market. In this role, Harrigle will continue to exemplify the brand’s tradition of transferring technology between its race tires and passenger tires.

“I am extremely proud of my accomplishments as Chief Engineer and Manager of Race Tire Development, and throughout my entire career with Firestone Racing,” Harrigle said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with many talented, dedicated and inspiring people in the world of motorsport, and I am honored to have been chosen to lead the great team at Firestone Race Tire Development for the past four years. I am excited for a new challenge and to use my expertise in leading a team in the Consumer Tire Trade Group. I wish Firestone Racing and INDYCAR continued success in their tremendous partnership, and I congratulate Dan and Cara on their new roles.”

category: Firestone PR

Firestone Racing Notes – Iowa Corn 300

Posted by  on Friday, July 8th 2016     

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Firestone Racing Notes – Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit

Posted by  on Thursday, June 2nd 2016     

Firestone - Belle Isle - 2016

category: Firestone PR

Firestone Fast Facts – Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Posted by  on Wednesday, May 11th 2016     

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category: Firestone PR

Firestone Racing Notes – Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Posted by  on Thursday, April 14th 2016     

Firestone - Long Beach

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Firestone Racing Notes – Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix

Posted by  on Thursday, March 31st 2016     

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Firestone Racing Notes – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Posted by  on Thursday, March 10th 2016     

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Commemorative Firestone Race Tire to Honor Brand’s Indianapolis 500 Winners at 100th Running

Posted by  on Friday, February 19th 2016     

Commemorative Firestone Race Tire to Honor Brand’s Indianapolis 500 Winners at 100th Running

Special sidewall featuring racing legends Harroun, Meyer, Andretti, Castroneves, Franchitti, Montoya and more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 19, 2016) – Celebrating the “100 Days Out” milestone leading to the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500® Mile Race, Firestone today unveiled a special tire honoring the legendary drivers who contributed to the brand’s 66 combined victories at the world’s most renowned race. As the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500, Firestone has carried more drivers to victory circle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) than all other tire manufacturers combined.

“The Firestone brand solidified its place in motorsports history at the first running of the Indianapolis 500 with driver Ray Harroun. More than a century later, we are honored to celebrate all of the legendary drivers who have taken Firestone to victory circle at the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’,” said Lisa Boggs, director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “From the beginning, Harvey Firestone believed in the power of motorsports and the Indianapolis 500 as a showcase for our company’s performance, innovation and technology. That legacy is at the core of everything we do and we are proud to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

The special sidewalls, which feature iconic Firestone-shod drivers like Ray Harroun, the winner of the first Indy 500; Louis Meyer, the first driver to drink milk in victory circle; Mario Andretti, the “driver of the century;” and many more, have been designed to engage and educate both avid and casual fans about the brand’s rich history at IMS. Also displayed on the sidewall is the 100th Running logo and customary Firestone brand markings, including red and white Firestone F-Shield logos. These F- Shields are unique to the Indianapolis 500 tire as the red and white logos are used to identify the right and left race tires, respectively.

“After analyzing data and feedback from some of the world’s greatest drivers during our tire test in August, we decided on a tire specification that is optimized for the most grueling 500 miles in racing,” said Dale Harrigle, chief engineer and manager of race tire development for Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “The constant testing and evaluation of our race tires is in keeping with the Firestone brand’s century-long tradition of being the best today, still better tomorrow.”

Firestone used the tire test at IMS in August 2015 to evaluate possible tire specifications for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Using the performance data gleaned, Firestone engineers adjusted the construction and compound on this year’s Firestone Firehawk Indianapolis 500 race tires to improve driver feel and, in turn, the race experience for fans.

The tires feature an updated right-front construction designed to improve driver confidence in the corners, a softer left-rear construction to add overall grip and a more heat resistant left-side compound. Firestone will produce more than 5,000 tires featuring the commemorative Indy 500 sidewall, all of which will be used during practice, qualifying and the race.

For decades, racing has served as an ultimate proving ground for Firestone performance and technology. This heritage of performance and innovation has helped the Firestone brand’s on-track success translate to the open road. Firestone Racing’s engineers work side-by-side with the company’s tire engineers to ensure the technological advances developed for the racetrack help the driving public meet the demands of their daily travel. Firestone also ensures that the raw materials, proprietary technology and rigorous testing that go into creating its world-class racing tires are utilized to evaluate and produce the brand’s entire portfolio of passenger, truck, bus and agricultural tires.

Fans can first see the commemorative Firestone Indy 500 race tires in action beginning with practice on Monday, May 16 and during the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29. Fans can keep up with Firestone Racing by following the team on Twitter and Instagram (@FirestoneRacing) and by checking out firestoneracing.com.

 

category: Firestone PR

Firestone Fast Facts – MAVTV 500

Posted by  on Thursday, June 25th 2015     

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Firestone Racing Notes – Chevrolet Dual in Detroit

Posted by  on Thursday, May 28th 2015     

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