Firestone tires for Toronto Doubleheader
Broadcast: Live – Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, IMS Radio Network, Sirius/XM Channel 211 and inydcar.com.
Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied: The same street-course tire specifications used this season at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Detroit will be in use again this weekend.
Primary (black-sidewall) tires: Each entry receives nine sets* (36 total tires) for the race weekend. A total of 1,078 tires are available. Rookie drivers and those outside the top 10 in points receive a 10th set that must be returned after the first practice session (*-each entry must complete at least five laps during the first practice session to earn the ninth set of primary tires from its weekend allotment).
Alternate (red-sidewall) tires: Each entry receives three sets (12 total tires) for the race weekend. A total of 342 tires are available.
Wet-weather (rain) tires: Each entry can use up to six sets (24 total tires) of the rain tire that debuted in the middle of the 2012 season. A total of 436 tires are available.
The alternate tire program mandates teams use two dry-condition tire specifications in road- or street-course races. The Firehawk alternates, easily identified by their bright red sidewalls, pair the same tire construction as the primary specification with a softer tread compound to provide more grip and faster lap times, while trading off compound durability for the shorter-term advantages.
Per series regulations for doubleheader race weekends, all cars must use at least one set of primary tires and one alternate set during each race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. Otherwise, teams are free to use their tire allotment at their discretion.
Five Former Toronto Winners in Field: Past Toronto race winners in this year’s field are Dario Franchitti (1999, 2009, 2011), Will Power (2007, 2010), Sebastien Bourdais (2004), Justin Wilson (2005) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012).