Last year’s Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was one of the worst showings in all of motorsports in many years. With tires showing terrible cords in just a handful of laps, NASCAR was forced to throw a competition caution roughly every ten laps just to keep the race under control. After much backlash and disappointment, NASCAR, Goodyear and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have worked thoroughly throughout the past year to remedy the situation and find the perfect tire for this year’s event.

A number of tests have been held at the famed Brickyard, with mixed results coming from each test. Many earlier tests showed signs of the same problem seen in 2008, but as of late things appear to be improving.

“When we left Indianapolis last year, after last year's race, there was one thing we were very clear about, and that was that we were going to get it right,” Greg Stucker, director of race tire sales for Goodyear, said on Tuesday. “I guess I want everybody to be just as clear today that we're very confident that we have done exactly that. It's been a very deliberate process over the last 11 months. A lot has taken place. It's involved not only the Goodyear racing division but really the whole corporation. A lot of people have been involved doing a lot of different things in order to make sure we have a good recommendation for this year's race.”

Following another tire test at the Brickyard on Tuesday, Jeff Gordon seems happy with what he saw. The four-time Brickyard 400 winner finished fifth in last years event, but Gordon understands no one wants to see that happen ever again.

“Last year was something that none of us wanted to see what happened last year, and I think that it was determined I think probably before that race was over that it's not going to happen again,” Gordon explained. “You know, I just really hate that Goodyear took so much of the blame because this track is extremely abrasive. This car we've seen wears tires more. There's a lot of things that have contributed to what happened.”

Taking part in Tuesday’s test gave Gordon the confidence that Goodyear has figured out the problem and will ensure this year’s event is more exciting.

“I'm very pleased with the results,” Gordon said. “I was very surprised to see how much rubber was on the track yesterday when I arrived, and just to see how the tires are reacting from a grip level with the car as well as how it's wearing the tire, heat in the tire. I mean, everything looks great at the Brickyard 400 and go out there and run hard, and tire wear is not even going to be in the back of our minds.”

After receiving so much criticism after the debacle in Atlanta and embarrassment at Indy last year, Gordon remains confident in Goodyear and feels they truly stepped up to the plate to fix this problem.

“They've done an excellent job,” Gordon pointed out. “I think a lot of obviously credit goes to Goodyear, all the hard work, effort, time, money that's been spent to make it right, but obviously there's been a lot of teams, and I have not been one of them so I don't get the credit, but there's been a lot of teams that have contributed to put in a lot of laps in here to get it to where it is today.”

For Goodyear, last year’s event was more than unforgettable…it was a hit to their reputation. Serving as the exclusive tire provider for NASCAR, Goodyear puts its reputation on the line each and every race.

“We've got our name on the sidewall of every tire, so I think it's extremely important to our whole corporation,” Stucker concluded. “Like Jeff said earlier, there was nobody that walked out of here as part of this whole group, the teams, NASCAR and Goodyear that weren't disappointed with last year's outcome, and we went to work the very next day. And I can guarantee you within the racing division there hasn't been a day go by that we haven't talked about the Brickyard, the race, our feelings about it and what we're doing. So it's been number one priority for the last 11 months. And again, I think we got it right.”

Hopefully, for the fan’s sake, Stucker is right. 

“You know, it is important to have a good race here,” Gordon added. “There's a lot of fans that travel from all over to come to this race, and we know how many people are watching at home, and this is an important event, and we want to go out there and put the race on that we possibly can.”

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