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Firestone’s tires for the Indianapolis 500 follow a familiar design approach as the previous races held so far in 2024. With the NTT IndyCar Series having announced its plans in 2023 to contest the…
Firestone’s tires for the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 were designed to accommodate the switch to hybrid engines by the NTT IndyCar Series, leading to a production of sturdier tires to handle the increased weight and demands from the new energy recovery systems. Despite the delayed introduction of hybridization by Penske Entertainment, Firestone faced a challenge as the harder tires built for the heavier hybrid cars did not match well with the original lighter car specifications. To address this mismatch, Firestone developed a tire specifically for the Indy 500 race that aimed to maintain the high-quality racing experience associated with the event, incorporating learnings from testing with both the current and hybrid configurations. By focusing on early production and adjustments to the tire compounds and construction, Firestone ensured that the tires would offer improved durability and performance for the current cars, maintaining a balance between the hybrid and non-hybrid requirements on track.
