Bridgestone/Firestone studies Dayton racing program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 25)—Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.'s Dayton Tire business is "exploring its options" regarding the future of its racing program following the demise of the Dayton Indy Lights racing series after this season. Championship Auto Racing Teams announced recently the Indy Lights program—a companion "minor league" series to CART's international FedEx championship—would be dissolved after this year. Bridgestone/Firestone used the Indy Lights to get its Firestone brand back into Indy-type car racing in 1990, before it stepped the Firestone brand up to CART's premier series in 1995. In 1998, it made the Indy Lights program a showcase for its Dayton Daytona brand. The company has discussed the possibility of supplying tires to a new companion series for the Indy Racing League set to debut next season, but IRL has made no decisions yet regarding tires for the Infiniti Pro Series.