The NTT IndyCar Series will give alternate oval tires another go at its season finale next weekend at Nashville Speedway, after trialing the concept in 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
“Used in addition to Firestone Firehawk primary compounds, the softer alternate red-sidewall tires will provide another set of options, strategies and choices for drivers and teams as IndyCar continues to enhance wheel-to-wheel racing action and turbocharge the championship weekend,” the series said in a statement announcing the move. “In addition, rules for use of the weekend’s tire allotment also have been updated. Each NTT IndyCar Series entry will receive:
• Six sets of primary-compound tires
• Four sets of alternate-compound tires – NTT IndyCar Series teams may use their weekend allotment unrestricted in practice and NTT P1 Award qualifying
• In the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix race, teams must use, in any order:
- One set of primary-compound tires
- Two sets of alternate-compound tires As on road and street circuits, cars must complete two laps on each set of required tires. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a minimum one-lap penalty. Also new to the event, there are no requirements whether the tires used in the race must be “new” or “used.”
• Additionally, there are no restrictions governing the use of new or used primary or alternate tires in NTT P1 Award qualifying.
“In addition to the combined 10 sets of primary and alternate tires, each entry will receive a third and different set only to be used in the high-line group practice aimed at adding additional grip to a second racing groove – a session that has produced favorable results in 2023 and ’24.
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Firestone’s director of race tire engineering and production and chief engineer Cara Krstolic expressed pride about the work her team has put forth in the initiative.
“The time between the announcement of a new Nashville venue and the race itself was just seven months,” said Krstolic. “Our Firestone team rose to the challenge of an extremely short design cycle and its shortest-ever production timeframe to produce tires for a now heavier hybrid-powered car on a track the NTT IndyCar Series hasn’t competed on since 2008.
“Following two tests on the Nashville oval, we worked with IndyCar to create differentiation in tires that would provide fans and competitors with an exciting race. To achieve that goal, Firestone is providing an alternate tire for the Music City Grand Prix. Lessons learned from introducing alternates on an oval last season at St. Louis also contributed to our preparation. “The goal for the alternate tire is to have significant wear and degradation to the point that team pit stop strategies could change as tires may wear before the end of a fuel stint. They are also designed for the different grip levels of the two types of tires to aid in creating more passing opportunities.”