XPEL Grand Prix at Road America: A Tire Success in IndyCar
The NTT IndyCar Series showcased an engaging race at the XPEL Grand Prix in Road America this weekend, where tire performance played a pivotal role in the event’s dynamics. Drivers praised Firestone for delivering a tire solution that fostered competitive racing without the common issues of marbles and degradation.
Felix Rosenqvist, who finished second, noted, “I don’t know what Firestone has done, but the fact that we don’t have a lot of marbles really helps the racing. You can go off-line on the straight and there’s not a bunch of crap out there,” emphasizing the ability to race with confidence and versatility.
Santino Ferrucci, completing the podium in third, echoed this sentiment: “Firestone did a great job this weekend, and I think this is a track that they should kind of make a bit of a benchmark for.”
Race winner Alex Palou remarked on his overtaking capabilities, stating, “It wasn’t that bad… I overtook twice in Turn 1 on the outside, which normally you can’t, so that was great.” He highlighted the importance of multiple racing lines in enhancing overtaking opportunities: “Whenever you’re only able to do one line, it just gets tougher and tougher to pass.”
Overall, the tire performance was a critical factor in promoting engaging racing at Road America, setting a positive precedent for future events in the series.
