Firestone Racing Brings ENLITEN Sustainable Technology to 2026 INDYCAR

Bridgestone Americas announced that Firestone Racing will usher in the 2026 INDYCAR season with Firehawk race tires that integrate Bridgestone Global ENLITEN Technology. Beginning at this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone will compete on race tires that demonstrate the power of the sustainability-focused suite of technologies, company officials stated in a press release.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES & INDY NXT by Firestone 2026 Season

This season, the Firestone Race Tire Engineering (RTE) team will design, develop and deliver approximately 37,000 Firestone Firehawk ENLITEN Technology race tires. Of that total, more than 32,000 race tires will be supplied to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. They span 60 different specifications to meet the diverse demands of oval, road and street course configurations on the 18-race schedule.

The tire allotment also includes 5,000 tires across 18 different specifications to support the next generation of drivers competing in INDY NXT by Firestone. These tires help provide critical driver development experience over a 17-race schedule and on a competitive platform closely aligned with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, noted the release.

ENLITEN Technology in INDYCAR

ENLITEN Technology is designed to deliver customized performance while promoting a focus on enhanced sustainability across the Bridgestone and Firestone tire portfolios. This includes consumer, commercial and race tires.

Firestone Firehawk primary and alternate race tires will incorporate key ENLITEN Technology components, including:

• Renewable soybean oil: Replaces petroleum-based oils traditionally used in tire compounds
• Recycled steel: Used for the bead wire that anchors a race tire to a wheel
• Recycled carbon black: Reinforcement material recovered from end-of-life tires

Use of these materials helps improve resource efficiency and increase material circularity while meeting the rigorous performance demands of North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, the company said.

“Firestone Racing serves as a mobile lab to test and prove new technologies under the most extreme conditions,” said Lisa Boggs, director, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “The integration of ENLITEN Technology is the next step in our commitment to no compromises and sustainably focused technology through the use of cutting-edge materials.”

Firestone Racing’s Sustainability Efforts

Efforts are also ongoing to advance end-of-life recycling initiatives for race tires, moving from energy generation to material circularity. Nearly 100% of the tires used in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone are recycled into new uses beyond the racetrack, including playground and sports surfaces, flooring and other rubber products.

Firestone Firehawk race tires are produced at the Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron, Ohio. Opened in 2022, the ATPC marked a new chapter in Firestone’s 125-year history in the community where it was founded. The Firestone RTE team collaborates closely with their colleagues at the nearby Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, where insights gained on track help enhance product development across the Bridgestone and Firestone tire portfolio.