TippyGomez
05-07-03, 09:33 PM
40 years ago this week, tire size was the buzz word along pit road at Indianapolis. On May 7th, the first 150mph lap was cut by the 1962 Indianapolis "Rookie of the Year" Jim McElreath, from Arlington Texas. The tire size controversy centered on the Lotus Fords, with ten other cars, including 3 conventional roadsters were using the smaller wheels. It is interesting that the request for the 15" rubber was not originally a Team request, rather one Smoky Yunick had put in a request with Firestone 3 full years prior. The protest stems from the fact that did not acknowledge the production of these smaller tires with the USAC technical people. Firestone, on the other hand, says USAC tech was made aware of the development and issued a statement "We are obligated to meet the requirements of the smaller, lighter machines. We feel certain that all the tires, in all sizes, will perform the best ever."
On May 8th, Goodyear entered the scene with a set of tires mounted on AJ Foyt's Sheraton Thompson Special. These 15 inch tires (x8.00 front, 8.25 rear) were developed for stock cars. This was Goodyear's first foray into Indy since 1922.... Foyt,s test runs were made in high winds the results were inconclusive....
On May 9th, Foyt did 25 laps with a top speed of 146 mph. While not impressed, AJ states that before they pass judgment they will wait for some special wider rear rims in anticipation of some performance gain. 15 inch Firestone rubber was mounted to teammates Roger Ward and Don Branson, in the Leader Card entries. They ran several laps nose to tail. Upon entering the pits, Ward gave the new tires a ringing endorsement. Several teams scrambled for the phone in order to place orders with Californian Ted Halibrand.......
On May 10, Word was received in Gasoline Alley that Ted Halibrand was halting production on all products except the new 15 inch wheels. This in spite of the fact that no one has really cut an outstanding lap with the new size. Ted says it will be near impossible to crank out 300 wheels necessary by qualifying time but will manufacture as many as possible.....
May 11, The 15 versus 18 inch tire controversy was settled once and for all in favor of the smaller rubber today by Parnelli Jones. Jones whipped the Agajanian Special around the bricks at an unofficial 152.027 mph. Jones attributed the run to the 15 inch tires, and plenty of nitro!
TG
On May 8th, Goodyear entered the scene with a set of tires mounted on AJ Foyt's Sheraton Thompson Special. These 15 inch tires (x8.00 front, 8.25 rear) were developed for stock cars. This was Goodyear's first foray into Indy since 1922.... Foyt,s test runs were made in high winds the results were inconclusive....
On May 9th, Foyt did 25 laps with a top speed of 146 mph. While not impressed, AJ states that before they pass judgment they will wait for some special wider rear rims in anticipation of some performance gain. 15 inch Firestone rubber was mounted to teammates Roger Ward and Don Branson, in the Leader Card entries. They ran several laps nose to tail. Upon entering the pits, Ward gave the new tires a ringing endorsement. Several teams scrambled for the phone in order to place orders with Californian Ted Halibrand.......
On May 10, Word was received in Gasoline Alley that Ted Halibrand was halting production on all products except the new 15 inch wheels. This in spite of the fact that no one has really cut an outstanding lap with the new size. Ted says it will be near impossible to crank out 300 wheels necessary by qualifying time but will manufacture as many as possible.....
May 11, The 15 versus 18 inch tire controversy was settled once and for all in favor of the smaller rubber today by Parnelli Jones. Jones whipped the Agajanian Special around the bricks at an unofficial 152.027 mph. Jones attributed the run to the 15 inch tires, and plenty of nitro!
TG