INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 23, 2005) — Bridgestone/Firestone has renewed its “presenting sponsorship” status with the Champ Car racing series and will put up $10,000 at each event for the pole position winner.
This will be the third consecutive season that Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire L.L.C. will be the series' presenting sponsor and the fourth straight year that Bridgestone will be the exclusive tire supplier. Officially, the series is called the “Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.”
The 2005 season consists of 14 events on oval circuits, temporary street circuits and permanent road courses in five countries, starting April 8-10 in Long Beach, Calif., and ending Nov. 6 in Mexico City.
The Bridgestone Pole Award will present the top qualifier at every event $5,000, with another $5,000 going to charity. Half of the charity award will go to the Association of Hole In The Wall Camps (the official charity of Champ Car), with the other $2,500 going to other local and national charities.
In addition, Bridgestone will award $30,000 at the end of the season to the driver winning the most poles during the year, with an additional $10,000 going to the winning team's chief mechanic.
All told, the Pole Award adds up to $180,000 in prizes.