RacingNation.com
Home / IndyCar Series / Firestone To Award $50,000 To Final Indianapolis 500 Qualifier

Firestone To Award $50,000 To Final Indianapolis 500 Qualifier

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 – The 92nd running of the
Indianapolis 500 promises to be one of the most exciting in recent
history, and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is
proud to contribute to the thrills fans have in store by announcing the
“Firestone Indy 500 Final Qualifier Award.”

Designed to add more drama and rivalry into the final day of
qualifications on Sunday, May 18, the $50,000 Firestone Indy 500 Final
Qualifier Award will go to the last driver to make the Indianapolis 500
field on “Bump Day” – not necessarily to the 33rd-place qualifier, but
to the driver who is the last to make it into the field for the classic
race, which will be run Sunday, May 25.

“There are three competitions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the
month of May,” said Al Speyer, executive director, Firestone Racing.
“One contest is for the pole, one is for the victory, and one is for
simply making the show. All of America’s top open-wheel racing teams and
drivers will be competing for the most coveted 33 spots in racing under
a unified IndyCar Series umbrella, and Firestone Racing is happy to do
what we can to add to the anticipation and edge-of-your-seat tension
that we know the final day of qualifying can provide.”

Said Joie Chitwood, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief
operating officer: “Teams and drivers fighting for the last spot in the
Indianapolis 500 field work just as hard as those competing for the PEAK
Motor Oil Pole, so we’re thrilled that Firestone is recognizing and
rewarding the perseverance and hard work of the final qualifier. The
Firestone Indy 500 Final Qualifier Award is another example of
Firestone’s longstanding, deep commitment to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in
Racing.'”

Should Bump Day not occur for any reason, the award will be given to the
final qualifier on the third day of qualifications. If the field is not
full and the IndyCar Series conducts a special session to fill the open
positions, the award will go to the final qualifier in the special
session.

Share Button