Goodyear Eagles, Chevrolet Corvette Win at Rolex 24 Hours

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 5 In its biggest sports car win
ever, a Chevrolet Corvette C-5R on Goodyear Eagle race tires erased a 26-lap
deficit and won the Rolex 24 Hour endurance race here.
    The two factory Corvette race cars finished first and second in the GTS
class and first and fourth overall.  The teams used Goodyear tires and race
rain tires in America's most prestigious road race.
    In a related development, Goodyear also announced that it would produce
its latest Goodyear race-inspired tires for late model Corvettes.
    Goodyear fine-tuned its Eagle F1 Supercar ultra performance tires at the
racetrack for the 2001 Corvette Z06, and now the tiremaker is engineering tire
sizes for 1988 model year and newer Corvettes, including the ZR-1 model.
    Bob Toth, marketing manager for auto tires, said the Corvette win was the
first time Chevrolet has won the overall title in the 24-hour race since Roger
Penske's Chevrolet-Lola win in 1969.
    Toth said Goodyear's race tires performed well throughout the 24 hours.
"Our superiority, however, was evident when it started to rain.  Our race rain
tires, which look like our street-approved Eagle F1 GS D2 ultra-performance
tires, showcased our rain-tire technology superiority," Toth added.
    The winning car was driven by Chris Kneifel, Johnny O'Connell, Ron Fellows
and Franck Freon.  "This win has to rank as Corvette's and one of Goodyear's
biggest sports car wins ever," Toth said.
    Toth said Goodyear and Dunlop race tires dominated the 79-car field.
    Canadian Corvette driver Fellows took 65 minutes to erase the 26-lap
deficit and take the lead.  He raced until the gearbox began to overheat in
the final hour.  With less than 30 minutes and a 19-lap lead, he pulled the
car onto pit lane and parked until the final moments.
    In the final 10 minutes, Fellows ran three slow laps to take the checkered
flag for an eight-lap victory over a Porsche in the GT class.
    Corvette covered 656 laps and 2,335 miles on the 3.56-mile Daytona
International Speedway road circuit at an average 97 mph.
    The No. 3 Corvette -- driven by Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins and NASCAR
stars Dale Earnhardt and son Dale Jr. -- overcame transmission problems to
finish fourth, two laps behind the GT class of two Porsches and 14 laps behind
the winners.
    Toth said Corvette's finish benefited Goodyear as well.  He said the
company will expand the Eagle F1 Supercar tire line with four new sizes by
summer -- 275/40ZR17, 245/45ZR17, 315/35ZR17 and 275/40ZR18.
    "These new sizes are our commitment to Corvette owners.  It's a chance to
improve the breed with the latest ultra performance tire that Goodyear
offers," Toth said.
    On the Corvette Z06, Chevrolet credits the wider, grippier tires for the
sport car's "racetrack" performance.  "From 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat, and
more than 1 G of cornering acceleration, the Z06 truly takes Corvette
performance to the next level," according to Dave Hill, Corvette chief
engineer and vehicle line executive.
    Now, Corvette owners will be able to get these tires in the replacement
tire market.  For the tiremaker, it makes perfect sense.
    Goodyear's OE auto tire brand loyalty has increased in the past decade,
with more than 42 percent of tire buyers replacing their original-equipment
Goodyear tires with Goodyear aftermarket tires today.  On the Corvette, thanks
to unprecedented owner loyalty, Goodyear's Eagle tire replacement share is
more than 70 percent, Toth said.
    "We value our relationship," Toth said.  "To have tire fitment on
America's sports car is to be part of its legendary performance.  And we can
proudly say that Goodyear technology provides the tenacious grip that allows
Corvettes everywhere to deliver ultra performance on the streets and at the
racetrack."
    Over the years, Goodyear has been recognized as the leader in high-
performance tire market share, Toth said; however, the company's ultra
performance tire share is significantly higher than its overall performance
tire share.
    "Ultra performance is where we really shine.  It's a fantastic market to
bond with loyal enthusiasts in racing and street performance.  It's also the
most profitable segment in auto tires," Toth said.
    Toth said growing numbers of "tuner" enthusiasts and expansions in the
value-priced Z-rated Eagle HP Ultra Plus tire line also are driving market
share improvements in Goodyear's ultra performance line.  The company is
adding 11 new sizes by March in 16-, 17-, 18- and 20-inch rim diameters.
    John Eagleburger, Goodyear team leader for the General Motors engineering
team, said the Supercar tires are "very controllable at the limit.  Although
they are not true race tires, these street tire compounds approach race tire
performance.  They are extremely focused on maximum handling."
    The P265/40ZR17 (front) and P295/35ZR18 (rear) Eagle F1 Supercar tires are
larger than the Eagle F1 GS EMT run-flat tires on the 2001 Corvette coupe and
convertible.  The new tires are up to 5 percent wider in the road contact
patch than the C5 Corvette tires.
    The Chevrolet Corvette has been America's favorite sports car for 47
years, with more than 1.2 million in sales.  Goodyear tires have been standard
equipment on the sports car since 1978.