OFFICIAL: FIRESTONE GONER

[Chief]

Vibrant IRL/Indycar sponsor FIRESTONE announced today it is GONE.


Following weeks of negotiations to try and keep Firestone through 2012, the tire giant that has captured 61 Indianapolis 500s is departing after a 21-year run
Firestone sods off IRL/Indycarz (http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-firestone-confirms-open-wheel-exodus/)

[cameraman]

So they'll be running Goodyear G-19s next year:rolleyes:

Gotta love this quote.
Bernard, in Italy and unavailable for comment, has been talking with Goodyear, Hoosier, Michelin and Avon about replacing Firestone in 2012.

Can you imagine the response when that hilljack asked Michelin about running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:eek:

[Gnam]

61* Indianapolis 500s

:gomer:

[Michaelhatesfans]

Can you imagine the response when that hilljack asked Michelin about running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:eek:

:laugh:
"How would you like to continue your rich tradition of racing at Indianapolis? Hello? Hello....?"

[SurfaceUnits]

90 cents lost on every dollar spent, according to management

[stroker]

Thank God we won't have to put up with that dumbass in the Chicken Suit any more.

[devilmaster]

Thank God we won't have to put up with that dumbass in the Chicken Suit any more.

stroker ace?

[stroker]

stroker ace?

No, the dork in the Firehawk suit with the beaked helmet who's always in the background in Victory Circle.

I'd have paid money to punch that guy at some point.

[devilmaster]

whoops. forgot this ;)

[G.]

90 cents lost on every dollar spent, according to management

where can one find that info?

[NismoZ]

How can it NOT be :rofl:HOOSIER!:D. Next, full roll cages and nerf bars! The Vision is about to come true! ( I learned all the Indy winners, in order, by looking at those Firestone Life Magazine ads...until Goodyear came along and ruined everything.) Didn't Firestone resurrect those ads with the little thumbnail pics recently?)

[SurfaceUnits]

where can one find that info?


Firestone has indicated that it only sees about 1/10th the return on its investment in Indycar, due to low TV ratings. Firestone indicates the only race series of note in the US, is NASCAR, and they would love to take part if NASCAR allowed others to compete, or Goodyear makes an exit.

It looks like Firestone will leave in 2011 unless the teams cover the costs for tires, and Firestone reduces its other marketing funds.

[G.]

stuff

anything outside of message board posts? I'm sure it's accurate, but there's a few noses that need to see quotes on the ROI.

[SurfaceUnits]

No, it is a first hand report from someone who had a disscusion with someone in the know,,,,I know it does not rise to the level of Robin miller :gomer:

mower: to break even for a tire company they would have to charge 900k for the year. Last year the tire budget was 300k and other manufacturers would not do it less than 500k. Firestone did give the teams a sweet deal.

[NismoZ]

Whaddaya mean? The League, oops, IndyCar sent me an e-mail news report about it...and I don't even remember asking!:irked:

[Duroc]

Shane! Come back! (http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110309/IRL/110309890)

Al Speyer:


“I guess now with the team owners getting more actively involved, I would never say never [about returning], but things like this aren't easy to [change],” he said. “The decision was partly about us taking a different direction [in our marketing efforts].”

They gone!

:laugh:

[TKGAngel]

Two interesting bits from the tire trades this past week:

- If Firestone does leave forever, 68 people will be out of work. (http://www.tirereview.com/Article/85013/100_and_out_firestone_brand_leaving_indycar_after_ season.aspx)

- If Firestone does stay, tire rates could increase to $550k for the year (http://www.tirereview.com/Article/85182/indycar_owners_the_name_thats_known_is_firestone.a spx) for 2012.

[SurfaceUnits]

they had better be working on those new tires for that new car

[stroker]

they had better be working on those new tires for that new car

<Butthead> "he said new car.... hehehehehe"</Butthead>

[Michaelhatesfans]

per autosport, they're back in now - someone got the checkbook out?

[TKGAngel]

per autosport, they're back in now - someone got the checkbook out?

For Indycar only. Lights needs to find their own tires.

[NismoZ]

Cooper Indy Lights?

[cameraman]

If Cooper could do the Atlantics there is no reason they couldn't do the Indy Lights.