Checkered flag for retiring Firestone race engineer

FONTANA, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2012) – Page Mader, general manager of race tire development for Firestone Racing, waved the checkered flag Saturday night on the Izod IndyCar race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana and on his 40-year career with Bridgestone Americas and Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

“Page has been a cornerstone of the Firestone Racing program for

decades, so he undoubtedly is deserving of this honor and recognition as he heads into retirement,” said Al Speyer, executive director, Firestone Racing.

“He has always brought a tremendous passion for the sport and his insight has been invaluable regarding the design and development of what we believe are the finest race tires anywhere. We cannot think of a better way for Page to close the final chapter of his racing career than by waving the checkered flag at his final race.”

In his 33 years as a leader in the Firestone racing division, Mr. Mader has been involved in developing a range of Firestone race tires in drag racing, sprint cars, modifieds, sports cars and IndyCar open-wheel racers.

Firestone Racing sought and received permission for Mr. Mader to handle the checker-flag duties at the Sept. 22 race, the final race in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series.

“All of us at IndyCar feel this is an excellent way to show how much Page means to us,” said Beaux Barfield, chief steward for the series. “We wish him nothing but the best in retirement and know that he has nurtured a fine staff under him that will keep up the great work at Firestone Racing that we've become accustomed to during Page's tenure.”

Mr. Mader normally oversees the staff of Firestone Racing pit-lane engineers and technicians from the group's timing stand. On Saturday night, he left that post late in the race for the last time and headed to the flag stand to wave the checkered flag for race winner Ed Carpenter and season champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.