Barnhart defends Firestone after Foyt bashing

Firestone builds "the highest quality, best racing tire in motor sports, and it's one of the most consistent tires I've ever seen put on a car," Indy Racing League president for competition and operations Brian Barnhart said Thursday.

Barnhart asked if he could respond to comments from team owner A.J. Foyt in Sunday's Tampa Tribune. Foyt, asked what he thought about NASCAR driver Tony Stewart blasting Goodyear after the Atlanta race last month, said Firestone "is just as bad" and "we've got junk for tires."

Firestone is the exclusive tire supplier in the IRL, and Goodyear is NASCAR's exclusive tire. Barnhart said he "couldn't disagree more" with Foyt, and he believes Firestone's "performance, safety and reliability are outstanding."

Foyt raced on Goodyear tires during his legendary career, and he remains loyal to the company. He said no matter which company is supplying the tires, they're going to be better some weeks than others. "But it's the same tire for everybody, so you've got to live with it," he said.

Barnhart conceded IRL teams had several "cut tires" during last weekend's season opening event at Homestead. The likely culprit, he said, was a seam between the concrete pit wall and the asphalt pit lane.