Bridgestone/Firestone Future

[Uesque]

Looks like B/F has it's eyes on NASCAR. Would they still be willing to support 3 major open wheel series also?

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/13534/

[Flatspot]

My guess is that they would. In listening to the marketing people from Bridgestone at a few fan forums this year they indicated that the best thing for them is to be diversified and that they would also encourage a tire war between the various manufacturers and in varied series. The concept being that actually beating the competition is what sells tires not just simply participating. That is one of the primary reasons I wolud like to see a new tire war in Champ Car. Without it Champ Car could ultimately lose a presenting sponsor because the are simply participating instead of competing. The competition sells the goods.

[jjspierx]

Yes, also, its not like BF is spending a whole lot on Champcar. They do almost zero development on tires, except maybe a slight amount on the option tires.

[Uesque]

A BFGoodrich-Firestone battle would mirror the Michelin-Bridgestone duels of their parent companies in F1.

[Snrub]

I really wonder which a manufacturer would rather have:
1. Monopoly over tires in a series. Less attention paid, but no competition.
2. Stiff competition with what is from a business perspective highly risky situation where the company looks poor if they are beaten. Surely being beaten is worse than no competition? In F1, Michelin and Bridgestone have dumped money into the sport and ended up with a fairly stable, even competition. They're probably happy with that.

[Hazza]

Originally posted by Snrub
I really wonder which a manufacturer would rather have:
1. Monopoly over tires in a series. Less attention paid, but no competition.
2. Stiff competition with what is from a business perspective highly risky situation where the company looks poor if they are beaten. Surely being beaten is worse than no competition? In F1, Michelin and Bridgestone have dumped money into the sport and ended up with a fairly stable, even competition. They're probably happy with that.

And both have stated that they *would not* be the only supplier, So they enjoy the competition.

But aslong as its not a Ilmor-Chevy have not situtation annother tyre maker could be great.