Times Square Billboard Features Bridgestone Firestone

Billboard reinforces brand longevity, enduring quality, and strength.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 4, 2005) – For the third year in a row, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC is showcasing its premier brands through a prominent dual-sided billboard in Times Square, a widely celebrated and visible advertising district located in midtown Manhattan, New York.

Placement in Times Square enhances the visibility and consumer interest in the Bridgestone and Firestone brands. “We recognize the advantage of being immersed in a district known for cultivating creativity, energy and an edge that has made the area an icon of entertainment, culture and urban life for over a century,” said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North America Consumer Tire Brand Marketing, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). “ Times Square is the perfect location to highlight our commitment to providing the highest level of technologically sophisticated products.”

The Bridgestone and Firestone brands are represented on alternate sides of the billboard. Bridgestone brand race tires, that carried the past seven FIA Formula 1 World champions to their titles, are fitted on the Scuderia Ferrari race car and mirroring the new Ferrari SuperAmerica street car featuring the Bridgestone Potenza RE050 street tire. The Bridgestone brand’s “Passion for Excellence” campaign tagline is also highly visible, with neon for a dramatic night-time display.

On the flip side of the billboard, the Firestone brand is featured on a colorful vertical image of the Firehawk Indy race style vehicle. This board showcases the brand’s strong and longstanding relationship with the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race ®. “Firestone-equipped drivers have won the Indy 500 ® a total of 56 times, more than all other tire manufacturers combined, and our success at Indy has been one of the cornerstones of the success of the Firestone brand,” said Pacsi.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:

Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) 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 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.

Firestone is the official tire of the Indy Racing League ®, which includes the IndyCar Series ® and the Menards Infiniti Pro Series ®, and the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Indy ®, Indy 500 ®, Indy Racing League and Indianapolis 500 ® Mile Race are registered trademarks of Brickyard Trademarks, Inc.