INDYCAR: Michigan Firestone notes

• "Bridgestone/Firestone PR Dept."
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Thu Aug 1 23:10:24 EDT 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				CONTACT: TONY TROIANO
						(615) 872-1418
						(800) 851-7000


HAT TRICK

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (July 29, 1996) -- They shoot!  They score!  With a
victory in the Marlboro 500 yesterday Firestone completed a hat trick this
Indy season, capturing all three 500 mile races -- the U.S. 500, Indy 500
and Marlboro 500.  The winning streak at superspeedways actually stands at
four with the 1995 Marlboro event.  Firestone-equipped cars also captured
the pole position for each of the races.

"We're very proud of our record at the superspeedways," said Al Speyer,
Bridgestone/Firestone motorsports manager.  "Starting with last year's Indy
500 our engineers have provided an excellent product for these tracks.  We
haven't missed a beat, we have improved it over the past year."

"What can I say?  The tires are the kind of thing you just don't worry
about going into or during the race," said Tasman Motorsports owner Steve
Horne.  "The tires are there all the time for you, very reliable."

That reliability helped Horne's driver Andre Ribeiro motor to the checkered
flag yesterday.  With plenty of Firestone and Honda muscle and some savvy
driving, Ribeiro kept the field at bay for his second victory of the season.    

"The racing among the top cars was spectacular and it's obvious the
Firehawks gave our guys the confidence to duel at 230 miles per hour," said
Speyer.  "Firestone is associated with such super people.  Steve Horne and
Tasman have been with us from the beginning and moved up from Firestone Indy
Lights.  We're so happy for all of them -- Andre, Steve and the entire
organization."

Ribeiro's teammate Adrian Fernandez recorded the race's fastest lap at
234.020 mph.  Firestone drivers led 240 of the Marlboro's 250 laps.
Target/Chip Ganassi Racing's Jimmy Vasser, riding on Firestone tires,
started from the pole following a record qualifying run of 234.665 mph.
Firestone, with only nine cars in the field, held seven of the top-ten
starting spots.

However, the Red Cross could have sponsored the Firestone family this race.
While no one was injured badly, cars and feelings were bruised.
Payton/Coyne Racing's Roberto Moreno, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex
Zanardi and Brix/Comptech Racing's Parker Johnstone crashed into the wall
while Forsythe Racing's Greg Moore experienced wheel bearing problems,
Fernandez a bad clutch and Patrick Racing's Scott Pruett a deceased engine.  

"A lot of our guys had tough luck while running a very strong race," added
Speyer.  "We're certainly relieved everyone is ok after some nasty wrecks.
We also wish Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy speedy recoveries and hope
they're back in action soon."  (Tracy was injured in a practice accident and
Fittipaldi in a first lap race crash.)

Ribeiro's win assures Firestone of a winning record in its second year of
racing.  Firestone is 8-4 in the PPG Indy Car World Series with four events
remaining and 3-0 in the Indy Racing League with two races left in this
calendar year.

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