History of Firestone Motorsports
When The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1900, it was destined for a long and prosperous association with motorsports. Harvey S. Firestone knew his growing company could profit from the growing public interest in auto racing, a sport then in its infancy.
"My great-grandfather can be credited with using racing as a marketing medium," says Nick Firestone. "He was one of the first persons to recognize the potential marketing and testing benefits that come from motorsports."
"Firestone was an astute businessman who recognized an involvement with motorsports would provide two very important benefits," says Al Speyer, motorsports director, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. "Not only would it be an excellent laboratory to evaluate new technology, it would also help demonstrate the performance capabilities of his tires. Our racing programs today still provide these valuable benefits."
"In motorsports series around the world, we've established a winning reputation. Our performance on the track emphasizes the technical capabilities of our tire research and development program. That's as true today as it was when Firestone tires were first used in racing events more than nine decades ago."
In 1909, the initial Firestone racing tires appeared in a formal contest. There were, no doubt, unofficial competitions earlier as Model Ts became the rage. Two years later, a Firestone-equipped car would take to an increasingly popular track in the Midwest, to win the inaugural Indianapolis 500. That 1911 victory, by Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp, would begin the Firestone racing legacy, while also adding impetus to the company's growth as "America's Tire."
The term "race tire" is somewhat incorrect in referring to the first ones used in competition. To demonstrate product durability and quality, the first Firestone racing tires were actually the same as those sold for everyday use on roads and streets. The public saw how well the Firestone tires performed on the track and wanted them for their own vehicles. The old adage, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday," was certainly true for the Firestone brand.
The interest and passion for automobiles began to spread across the world. At the same time Firestone was becoming established in America, in Japan a young man named Shojiro Ishibashi purchased a Studebaker in 1912, using it as a moving billboard for his family business.
Ishibashi later became president of Nihon Tabi Company, and pursued the development of a tire manufacturing operation -- the first successful tire was finished April 9, 1930. The following year, Ishibashi founded the Bridgestone Tire Company, Ltd. Since there was a strong preference at the time for imported products, Ishibashi took the direct English translation of his family name (which means "stone bridge"), and reversed it to form the name "Bridgestone." The resulting name had an English sound that might appeal more to the Japanese public.
In 1967, Bridgestone entered the U.S. market through a sales subsidiary in California. Bridgestone then established its first U.S. production base by purchasing a Firestone tire plant in 1983. Five years later, Bridgestone purchased the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, including its global operations. The U.S. operations were consolidated in 1990 as Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
Before and since that consolidation, Bridgestone and Firestone tires have appeared in many forms of motorsports. Firestone tires, which have dominated the upper levels of open-wheel competition in the U.S. for the last few years, have in the past, enjoyed considerable success in NASCAR, Formula 1, drag racing, land speed record attempts and many other forms of motorsports.
Firestone-equipped drivers have won 568 Winston Cup events, an impressive record that began with the very first race in Charlotte, N.C., in 1949. By the end of the 1999 season, the number of Indy and Champ car events won by drivers on Firestone tires had reached the 554 mark.
The Firestone brand continues to excel in the top forms of U.S.-based open wheel competition. After a 20-year hiatus from Indy and Champ car racing, Firestone returned to competition in 1995. Since that re-entry, drivers on Firestone tires have won three Indy Racing League driver's championships and four Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) driver's titles. The 1998 and 1999 CART seasons were especially impressive, with Firestone-equipped CART drivers winning 37 of 39 races.
The number of Indianapolis 500 wins on Firestone tires hit the magic 50 mark when Arie Luyendyk won the 1997 event driving a Firehawk-equipped car for Treadway Racing. No other tire manufacturer comes close to this record; in fact, all other tire manufacturers combined still do not have as many wins at the famous Brickyard.
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. is celebrating 100 years of innovation that began in 1900 through a company founded by Harvey S. Firestone. Throughout the year 2000, "Firestone: A Legend. A Century. A Celebration." recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit that built a brand that has been admired worldwide.
Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation of Japan, the world's largest tire and rubber manufacturer. Bridgestone/Firestone develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company also produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles.
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| Off and on! Jimmy Bryan's pit crew changes his Firestone tires and services his racer en route to victory lane in 1958. (Bridgestone/Firestone Collection) |
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| Firestone technicians were a welcome sight to race teams. 1952. (Bridgestone/Firestone Collection) |
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| Wilbur Shaw is one of auto racing's greatest figures. Shaw rode Firestone tires to victory in 1937, '39 and '40. He finished second in 1933, '35 and '38. (University of Akron Archives-Firestone Collection) |
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| Firestone tires were used by Louis Meyer who was the first three-time victor of the Indy 500 1928, 33 and 36. He established speed records in his last two wins. (Bridgestone/Firestone Collection) |