Firestone to sponsor IndyCar finale

With some of the closest competition in motorsports, the IndyCar Series championship inevitably seems to come down to the wire – and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) looks forward to being a part of the excitement surrounding the crowning of this year's champion by serving as title sponsor for the IndyCar Series championship finale, held for the first time at Homestead-Miami Speedway, just outside Miami, Fla. The Firestone Indy 300 will be contested on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

"The past three IndyCar Series championships have been decided on the last lap of the last race of the season," commented Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "In the final lap of this year's Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, just as they have on every other lap this season, drivers will rely on their Firestone Firehawk tires to carry them to the checkered flag. It is fitting that this year's title winner will be crowned at a track that presents Firestone Racing engineers with one of their greatest challenges, as whoever emerges on top, both in the race and in this year's championship, will truly have earned the rewards considering the diversity of the IndyCar Series schedule and its deep field of talented drivers. We are proud to see the Firestone brand associated with the best of the best."

"The Firestone brand is synonymous with IndyCar Series championships, and Homestead-Miami Speedway has become synonymous with crowning motorsports champions," said Curtis Gray, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway. "As we make history in 2009 as the first and only track ever to host all six of North America's premier motorsports championships, Firestone will play an integral role in building both the Firestone Indy 300 and Firestone Indy Lights championship finales. What an opportunity it is for us to partner with an absolute pillar of the sport."

The Firestone Indy 300 will be part of the Indy Racing League's championship weekend celebration, as the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights champion will also be crowned during Homestead-Miami Speedway's "SpeedJam" weekend, October 9-10. The Firestone Indy 300 will air live on VERSUS from 4-7 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 10, while the Firestone Indy Lights championship finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway will also air live on VERSUS on Friday, October 9 (time TBD). Tickets for the Firestone Indy 300 are available at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/tickets, or by calling 1-866-409-RACE (7223).