IRL: Goodyear seeks second straight IRL tire championship at Pikes Peak
26 August 1999
FOUNTAIN, Colo.-- Goodyear can clinch its second-straight unofficial Indy Racing League season title for tire manufacturers with its sixth victory in eight IRL races at the Colorado 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway."With five wins in seven races, Goodyear has proven to be the tire the winners rely on in the Indy Racing League," says Paul Lauritzen, Goodyears operations manager for the IRL. "Goodyear can claim the 1999 tire manufacturers honors with a win this weekend, but it is just as important to make sure that our Goodyear-equipped teams and drivers get to victory lane and claim as many top finishing positions possible at every race we compete in."
Goodyears IRL wins include the Kenny Brack-led 1-2-3 sweep at the Indianapolis 500.. IRL points leader Scott Goodyear has won twice this year, at Phoenix in March and again at Texas in June. Scott Sharp jumped into championship contention with a well-deserved victory in Atlanta last month and Eddie Cheever won the season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway in Florida.
But to stay on top in a competitive racing series like the Indy Racing League means Goodyear will keep trying to improve its product, even at such a late date in the season. To help place Goodyear tires in victory circle and throughout the top 10, Goodyears racing division conducted a successful three-day test in early August at Pikes Peak with A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Kenny Brack and Billy Boat), Pagan Racing (Jeff Ward) and Panther Racing (Scott Goodyear).
"Goodyear went testing at Pikes Peak specifically to find a tire that is more consistent with improved grip," Lauritzen says. "While that is the objective of every tire test, we are encouraged about the results of the Eagle IRL radials we tested and the feedback our engineers received from the drivers.
"We learn something new every time we test and the results always benefit the entire open-wheel program." Lauritzen adds. "By taking what we learned at the earlier Pikes Peak tests and the first race in June, we feel we have found a race tire that has the performance we are looking for."
The information received from the four drivers will benefit the other Goodyear-equipped teams, including Galles Racing/Spinal Conquest driver Davey Hamilton, the only driver to have finished on the podium in every IRL event contested at the mile-high mile oval.
"Im not sure what it is about Pikes Peak; its obviously a racetrack that fits my style well," says Hamilton, the only driver to have competed in every IRL event. "You really have to drive Pikes Peak. You just cant go flat-out all day -- you have to lift, you have to negotiate traffic and theres a lot of passing but you also need to have a great race car package. Ive been fortunate to have great race cars and great tires from Goodyear."
"Tire management is very important at Pikes Peak," he adds. "Youre going so fast and you can get away with a softer tire, so the driver has to take care of the tires and make sure that they are consistent over the run. Goodyear has done a good job for us and if there is an area for improvement, they can address it and find a solution quickly."
Goodyear racers solidified their claims in the IRL points chase, holding nine of the top 11 positions in the IRL points championship. Scott Goodyear continues to lead the way with 193 points, followed by Brack (third, 179 points), Ward (fourth, 170), Sharp (fifth, 169), Cheever, (sixth, 158), Boat (seventh, 157) and Buddy Lazier (ninth, 153). Hamilton and Mark Dismore are tied for 10th with 140 points each.
Also racing on Goodyear Eagles are a talented quartet of rookie drivers. Ronnie Johncox (Tri-Star Motorsports), Jeret Schroeder (PDM Racing), Jaques Lazier (Truscelli Team Racing) and Pikes Peak Hillclimb veteran Bobby Regester (Truscelli Team Racing), the latter making his first IRL start.
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