Choosing Between Red And Black

Sao Paulo, March 12, 2010: All cars must use at least one primary set of Firestone Firehawks and one new alternate set during the 75-lap race on the 2.6-mile, 11-turn circuit for a minimum of two green flag laps.

The primary Firehawks are derived from the same spec as last year at Long Beach and Toronto. The alternate spec for São Paulo is identical to the 2009 primary spec for St. Petersburg. The alternate tires are identical in construction to the primaries but contain a softer tread compound that will provide more grip and faster lap times, yet trade off compound durability in exchange for those shorter-term advantages.

Also available, if needed, are street course rain specification tires (five sets per entry).

"The Firestone tires chosen for this event - both the primary and alternate specifications - are race-tested, so even though this is a new track, we anticipate that the Firehawks will stand up to whatever the streets of São Paulo have to offer," Firestone Racing executive director Al Speyer said.

As a refresher, three rounds of qualifications are used on street and road courses. Oval events employ the aggregate of four timed laps to set the grid. In Round 1 of the São Paulo event, two sets of 12 cars each have 20 minutes (including full-course yellow) to post their best lap times. The top six from each group advances to Round 2, with the remaining cars assigned positions 13-24.

The 12 advancing cars receive 15 minutes of track time. The top six advance to the Firestone Fast Six, with the remaining cars ranked in positions 7-12 based on their fastest lap time in the session.

The cars in the Firestone Fast Six shootout receive 10 minutes of track time. Each car receives an extra set of Firestone Firehawk primary tires for the segment, with the PEAK Performance Pole Award winner and the next five cars determined by lap time.