Imagine racing at breakneck speeds around a one-mile oval, but the real challenge isn’t the track—it’s the freezing temperatures. That’s exactly what Firestone faced during a critical verification test for the upcoming IndyCar race at Phoenix Raceway. Despite the unexpected chill, Firestone is now ready to finalize the tires for the highly anticipated event, marking IndyCar’s return to Phoenix after an eight-year hiatus. But here’s where it gets intriguing: how did they manage to gather all the necessary data in such adverse conditions? And this is the part most people miss—the colder temperatures actually played a surprising role in their testing strategy.
The test, which began unusually early and wrapped up shortly after noon, was a race against time—literally. With rain threatening to disrupt the schedule, Firestone’s team, led by Cara Krstolic, Director of Race Tire Engineering and Production, had to adapt quickly. ‘It was cold, but it was a productive test,’ Krstolic told RACER. ‘We condensed the schedule significantly but still achieved all our long-run objectives. The key was starting at 8 a.m. to beat the rain and focus on setup runs and full-tank long runs to collect essential data.’
The chilly conditions weren’t just a nuisance—they offered a unique advantage. With temperatures hovering around 55-60 degrees, the cooler air provided extra downforce, theoretically allowing for faster speeds. However, lap times remained consistent with those from November, as Krstolic noted. ‘The cooler temperatures gave us more downforce, but the real win was understanding the performance differences between tire compounds and constructions,’ she explained.
But here’s the controversial part: Some might argue that testing in such unseasonably cold conditions doesn’t accurately predict tire performance for the March race, when temperatures are expected to be significantly warmer. Is Firestone taking a risk by finalizing their tire choice based on this data? Or is this a calculated move backed by years of expertise? Let’s dive deeper.
Josef Newgarden, the 2018 Phoenix race winner, echoed Krstolic’s sentiments. ‘It was cold, but the track remained drivable,’ he said. ‘While the conditions weren’t what we’ll see in March, we accomplished what Firestone needed to finalize their tire selection. It’s great to be back with the team—the season feels just around the corner.’
As the test concluded around 12:30 p.m., Krstolic spent the afternoon compiling a detailed report of the day’s findings to share with all IndyCar teams ahead of the Phoenix Open Test on February 18-19. Meanwhile, her Firestone colleagues eagerly awaited the green light to begin tire production. ‘They were messaging us during the test, asking about the compound choice,’ Krstolic said. ‘Now, we’re headed back to Akron to provide our manufacturing team with the data they need to start production.’
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Given the unconventional testing conditions, do you think Firestone’s tire selection will hold up in March? Or could the colder temperatures have skewed their data? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a debate!
