Firestone bringing revised tires to Pocono 500

2019 Indy 500 construction with 2018 Pocono compound

"The layout at Pocono Raceway has three distinct turns with completely different radii and levels of banking, making it one of the most challenging tracks to design tires for. When the Firestone Race Tire Engineering team is designing the tires for Pocono, we must make sure the tires can run smoothly through turn 1 but also carry as much speed as possible coming out of turn 3. To do that, the Firestone Race Tire Engineering team developed new right-side tires that use the same construction as the 2019 Indy 500 tire and the same compound as the 2018 Pocono tire. Paired with left-side tires that use the same race-proven compound and construction from the 2019 Indy 500 tires, this combination provides improved grip and strength to tackle the 'Tricky Triangle.’"

– Cara Adams, Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports

FIRESTONE FAST FACT
Pocono Raceway’s three completely different turns are a tricky – but fun – challenge for drivers and tire engineers alike. Turn 1 has 14-degree banking and was modeled after the former Trenton Speedway in New Jersey. Turn 2 has 9-degree banking with characteristics of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Turn 3 has 6-degree banking with similarities to The Milwaukee Mile. To handle this very unique layout, the right and left-side Firestone Firehawk race tires designed for Pocono this year are meant to reduce understeer experienced by drivers in 2018.