Firestone's New Redwall Tires - 10-Tenths Motorsport Forum

DanicaFan · 27 Mar 2009, 00:27

Well, the IndyCar Series is implementing a new tire alternative tire concept this year. Firestone has come up with a new tire that is similiar to the current racing slicks but have a softer tread which provides more grip. These tires have red sidewalls. This will allow you to have a quicker lap time.

Each car will get 3 sets of the new red sidewall tires. Each team is required to use at least one set of these for at least 2 green flag laps for each road/street course event. A team can even use these tires during qualifications on road courses to try and obtain a faster lap time resulting in a better starting position. The team however must leave at least one set untouched to use during the race itself.

A softer tire for better grip will wear out quicker so the use of these will come down to good strategy.
I like this new tire concept. I think it will make for interesting strategies. Do you use them for a better qualifying run, start out with them during the race to get a headstart of use them late to gain positions and make a run for the checkered ?

Firestone has a good thing here. I think this will be another good addition to racing strategy. This new tire concept will start for the season opener at St. Petersburgh on April 4-5th.

Here is a picture of them...

Matt · 27 Mar 2009, 01:10

Hooray ChampCar idea!

It's not a new tire concept, it's quite old.

DanicaFan · 27 Mar 2009, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Hooray ChampCar idea!

It's not a new tire concept, it's quite old.

I know its a ChampCar strategy but its new to the IRL.

I can see it now when Danica wins one of her races this year and she happens to have these redwall tires on, people will downplay the win and say she only won on a tire strategy, not her driving. Im already getting prepared for this null and void argument.

broadrun96 · 27 Mar 2009, 02:17

At least if they had to bring some Champcar ideas over, they didnt take the dumbest ones. Made for some good laps in the street races and I'm betting it will work out the same here. not sure it will make me watch any more IRL events though

Knowlesy · 27 Mar 2009, 02:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

I know its a ChampCar strategy but its new to the IRL.

I can see it now when Danica wins one of her races this year and she happens to have these redwall tires on, people will downplay the win and say she only won on a tire strategy, not her driving. Im already getting prepared for this null and void argument.

It is important in life to prepare for every eventuality, regardless of the likelihood.

But seriously, if a win can ever be taken away from a driver it certainly can't be on tyre choices.

Matt · 27 Mar 2009, 02:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

I know its a ChampCar strategy but its new to the IRL.

I can see it now when Danica wins one of her races this year and she happens to have these redwall tires on, people will downplay the win and say she only won on a tire strategy, not her driving. Im already getting prepared for this null and void argument.

She's not gonna win. You're worse than the Webber fans over in the F1 forum I think.

Knowlesy · 27 Mar 2009, 02:51

Shall we not turn this into another Danica thread?

Matt · 27 Mar 2009, 02:53

It's hard not to.

Just give us the Danica vs All fight thread!

Dutton · 27 Mar 2009, 07:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

I can see it now when Danica wins one of her races this year and she happens to have these redwall tires on, people will downplay the win and say she only won on a tire strategy, not her driving. Im already getting prepared for this null and void argument.

Yes, well, that would be a dumb thing to argue. It would be as illogical as trying to discredit her win because it was fuel mileage. That said, I would think the chances of you having to endure this is a bit low. Danica winning at a road/street course? It is possible, but really?

I wouldn't spend too much time constructing counter-arguments, if I were you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Hooray ChampCar idea! It's not a new tire concept, it's quite old.

It is indeed very tired. I've never liked this kind of thing in any series. Telling teams they have to use any particular compound is just lame. It never produces the effect it is meant to produce. Just create different compounds and let the teams decide.

Oh, well, so be it.

johntt · 27 Mar 2009, 09:58

I don't care whether its Champ Car, F1, or IRL that uses this concept, its a rubbish gimmick thats a substitute for real racing. Same goes for Push to Pass.

**Tim Northcutt** · 27 Mar 2009, 20:00

Give my racing straight with no chaser!

I really hate the games and gimmicks to create "strategy" twists.

Dutton · 27 Mar 2009, 21:31

It wouldn't be so bad if it worked. However, here in the real world, it takes no time at all for strategy consensus to be obtained. So, it leaves us with a totally pointless bit of fluff that has no discernable impact on anything. A bit of fluff which frustrates those already interested in the series, and can help confuse potential new fans.

lnin0 · 30 Mar 2009, 13:43

If you watched F1 yesterday you would see that the soft / hard tires things make a difference.

Guys who saved softs for the last stint and then tried to run extended laps on them ended up loosing any ground the tire made up for them at first. It definitely effected the running order at the end and added more passes than you would typically see.

Good passes...I don't know because the guys on hard tires didn't need to try much to move past some guy sliding all over the corner. It was passing none the less and that type of action is going to help tv ratings - no matter how we personally feel about it.

F1 has very distinct differences between the soft and hards so they wear / grip is extremely noticeable. If the IRL makes the soft only slightly different from the hard then it will probably be a wasted idea.

Now that F1 has Push to Pass it is only a matter of time......

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