Firestone's New Alternate Tires Deliver Eye-Opening Performance at St. Pete
The IndyCar Series' request for Firestone to create greater performance differentiation between primary and alternate tires has proven successful, according to leading drivers' feedback during Friday's practice in St. Petersburg.
IndyCar racing in St. Petersburg
Andretti Autosport's Kyle Kirkwood, who led Friday's session, reported that the new green-banded alternate tires featuring renewable guayule rubber deliver immediate grip but degrade rapidly. "It's like you've got tire warmers on," Kirkwood noted, highlighting the significant improvement in initial performance compared to last year's compounds.
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing emphasized that both tire compounds activate quickly, with the alternate tires showing peak performance on their first lap. The significant degradation of both compounds, particularly the alternates, will likely force teams into three-stop strategies during Sunday's race, rather than the traditional two-stop approach.
The increased performance gap between tire compounds and their distinct wear characteristics are expected to create more strategic variety and enhance racing competition throughout the weekend.