CART teams to run on Bridgestone Potenza tires

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Oct. 31)—Cars competing in the 2002 Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series will run on Bridgestone Potenza racing radials, instead of Firestone Firehawk, according to Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. The company cited the CART series' increasing international flavor—four or five races outside of North America—for its decision. With the Firestone brand set for the next four years in the expanding Indy Racing League, Bridgestone/Firestone executives thought the time was ripe to bring the Bridgestone brand into the racing mix to gain greater exposure for both brands, a company spokesman said. CART will have up to 20 races next year and the IRL 15. With the exception of one race, the super speedway event at Fontana, Calif,. the Bridgestone Potenza racing radials will be built at Bridgestone/Firestone's Akron technical center. The tires for Fontana and some selected IRL superspeedway events will be built at Bridgestone Corp.'s technical center in Tokyo, the firm said.