Firestone Brazil preview

Race Distance: 195 mi./313.82 km (75 laps on the 2.6-mi./4.184-km temporary street course).

Television/Radio Broadcast: Live – Sunday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m. ET on VERSUS, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211. Qualifying show airs at 2 p.m. ET Saturday on VERSUS.

Firestone Firehawk Race Tires Supplied:
* Primary (black-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 648, each entry gets six sets (24 total tires);
* Alternate (red-sidewall) dry-condition slicks: 318, each entry gets three sets (12 total tires);
* Wet-condition (rain) tires with grooved tread pattern: 364, each entry has five sets available.

Per IndyCar Series regulations, all cars must use at least one primary set of tires and one new alternate set during the race, each for a minimum of two green-flag laps. Otherwise, teams are free to use their Firestone tire allotment as they see fit during the weekend. Firestone Racing is bringing proven street-course tire specifications to the all-new São Paulo circuit. The primary (black-sidewall) Firehawks come from the same spec that ran as the primary spec last year at Long Beach and Toronto. The alternate (red-sidewall) spec for São Paulo is identical to the 2009 primary spec for St. Petersburg. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound which will provide more grip and faster lap times, yet trade off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages. If circumstances require, the wet-condition tire available is the softer, "street course rain" specification.

From Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing: "It's always exciting to kick off a new IZOD IndyCar Series season, but it's even more thrilling to drop the green flag for 2010 at a new international venue. Brazil is known worldwide for its passion for racing, and we expect the fans in Ṣo Paulo to embrace this event and support it enthusiastically. We head to Brazil with great anticipation for a memorable race weekend. The Firestone tires chosen for this event Рboth the primary and alternate specifications Рare race-tested, so even though this is a new track, we anticipate that the Firehawks will stand up to whatever the streets of Ṣo Paulo have to offer. There may have been changes in the paddock during the off-season, but the remaining constant as it has been throughout IndyCar Series history is the reliability, durability and consistency of the Firestone Firehawks on any circuit."

Firestone "Tire-ific" Move of the Race: Following each IndyCar Series race again in 2010, Firestone Racing will nominate three drivers who best utilized their Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. Fans can go to www.indycar.com and vote for the nominee they believe made the most "Tire-ific" move of the race. The $10,000 prize winner from Brazil will be announced in pre-race activities at St. Petersburg on March 28.