Goodyear withdraws as race car tire supplier.

Goodyear withdraws as race car tire supplier

Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Akron, OH, announced it will not return as a race-tire supplier to the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and Indy Racing League (IRL) series next year, choosing instead to concentrate its efforts on the other forms of racing the company is involved with. "Our decision is based, in part, on open-wheel racing's present state of affairs in North America and the ongoing split between CART and IRL," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager for global race tires. "Like many suppliers, we are certainly disappointed that no reconciliation between the two groups is in sight and therefore believe it is in the best interests of our shareholders, customers and the racing division to take a sabbatical from the CART and IRL series." As a result of the withdrawal, 18 engineering associates will transfer to other positions within Goodyear's Akron Technical Center, while approximately 60 manufacturing positions will be eliminated. "We are firmly committed to our successful supplier and marketing partnership with NASCAR, as well as our commitment to many other racing series to which Goodyear is a tire supplier," Grant said. In addition to NASCAR, Goodyear also supplies tires to the World of Outlaws, NHRA, IROC, IHRA, SCCA, USRRC, ALMS and many other forms of auto racing.

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