News Release: Mario and Michael Andretti To Appear At Bridgestone/Firestone SEMA Exhibit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Media Center

                        (877) 201-2373


 


MARIO AND MICHAEL ANDRETTI TO APPEAR


AT BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE SEMA EXHIBIT


Racing legends to greet fans November 5 & 6 in Booth #41917


 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 21, 2003)  - For the third year,
father-and-son racing legends Mario and Michael Andretti will meet fans
and sign autographs in the Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire,
LLC (BFNT) exhibit (Booth #41917 in the South Hall) at this year's SEMA
(Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas.  Mario
Andretti will appear from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Michael will
be on hand from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.  

The Andrettis are two of the most celebrated drivers in racing history,
and have competed in many of the world's top forms of motorsports on
Bridgestone and Firestone tires.  Their presence at the
Bridgestone/Firestone booth reaffirms their loyalty to the company, and
the long-term winning relationship they have built together.

"Our exhibit this year shines a spotlight on our long racing heritage,"
said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American Consumer Tire Brand
Marketing, BFNT.  "Aside from meeting the Andrettis, show-goers visiting
the Bridgestone/Firestone display also can view replicas of the 2002
Michael Schumacher Ferrari Formula One World Championship race car shod
with Bridgestone Potenza race tires and a 2003 IRL championship car
outfitted with Firestone Firehawk racing slicks.

"The display also will feature an incredibly realistic race simulator,
which gives users the feel of actually driving one of these awesome
vehicles," he added.

The Andretti name is synonymous with winning.  Mario Andretti took the
checkered flag 111 times during his career - a career that stretched
five decades.  He was named Driver of the Year in three different
decades (the 60s, 70s, 80s), Driver of the Quarter Century (in the 90s)
and he was named Driver of the Century by the Associated Press and RACER
magazine in January, 2000.  A four-time Champ Car national champion,
Mario Andretti is the only driver to win the Daytona 500, Indianapolis
500 and Formula One World Championship.  

Michael Andretti is one of the first "second-generation" open wheel
racecar drivers.  He retired from the cockpit this year after running
his final Indy 500 race in 2003, and is now owner of Andretti Green
Racing, a team that was a strong contender in the Indy Racing League
this year.  

He was a top contender in every season of his 18-year CART career, which
began in Las Vegas in 1983.  He finished in the top 10 of the CART
championship in 17 of 18 seasons on the circuit, scoring 42 wins and 32
poles, more than any other current driver.  Michael won the CART
Championship title in 1991 and finished as runner-up five times ('86,
'87, '90, '92 and '96).  

Nearly four decades have passed since Bridgestone tires made their first
appearance in a motorsports event.  Since then, Bridgestone-equipped
drivers have appeared in, and won, many events and championships around
the world, including the last five Formula One World Championships and
this year's Bridgestone Presents Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford
championship.

Firestone tires have appeared in racing events for almost 100 years.
Drivers on Firestones have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race 54 times -
a total greater than the victories of all other tire companies competing
at Indy combined.  Firehawk-equipped drivers have won six Indy Racing
League driver's championships and six Championship Auto Racing Teams
driver's titles in recent years.  The Firestone brand has also appeared
in - and won - championships in Formula One, NASCAR and many other
series.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a
subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company,
Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company.
BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton
and associate and private brand tires.  The company is focused on
wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light
truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural and other tires to its
customers in North America.

 

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*****************

Tiffany Bryant

Public Relations Coordinator

Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.

535 Marriott Drive

Nashville, TN 37214

 

615.937.1418 - voice

615.937.1414 - fax

877.201.2373 - media center

 

www.BridgestoneAmericas.com