Firestone Tyres

History

Harvey Firestone founded Firestone Tyre and Rubber in 1900 to supply pneumatic tyres for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common at the time. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tyres for automobiles. The company was a pioneer in the mass production of tyres. Firestone used this relationship to become the original equipment supplier of Ford.

Racing History

Firestone tyres made their first official racing appearance in 1909 when company founder Harvey Firestone put a set on a car driven by Barney Oldfield in the Indianapolis 300. During a test run for that competition, Oldfield told the assembled onlookers “my only life insurance is Firestone Tyres.” He and Firestone later had the phrase painted on the side of his racecar, and he toured the country “performing amazing feats of speed.”

The Indianapolis 300 was a precursor to the more famous Indianapolis 500, and no brand has enjoyed more success there than Firestone. Ray Harroun won the inaugural event in 1911 on Firestone Tyres, and so did Sam Hornish Jr. when he won in 2006. All told, 57 Indianapolis 500-Mile Races have been won by Firestone-equipped drivers -- a record of wins greater than all other Tyre companies competing at Indy combined.

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