Bridgestone Italian GP preview

Bridgestone Motorsport is looking forward to the Italian Grand Prix after a four day test week, last week, where all three teams prepared for this weekend's race. Bridgestone and its teams are proving that it is difficult to work with the Japanese tyres. However, Bridgestone is determined to finish the season on a high.

Monza is the home race for Ferrari and Minardi (both Bridgestone). The track at Monza is the fastest track on the calendar and gives the teams and the tyre manufacturers a lot to think about for this speed challenge.

Bridgestone sends his Formula One Potenza tyres to Monza this week from the Bridgestone's F1 distribution facility in Langley, UK. The specifications for Monza will exist out of two dry, grooved specifications for each team and the same wet weatherand extreme wet weather specifications for all Bridgestone teams.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport "Traditionally the Monza round is one of the most exciting and prestigious events of the year. It is also the home Grand Prix for two of our teams: Scuderia Ferrari and Minardi; and they will no doubt be supported by thousands of their fans. After a great deal of hard work with our teams at the Monza test last week, we hope they can give them something to cheer about."

Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager "Being the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar, the Monza GP is always a fast and furious race. The cars reach around 350km/h in four different places and in the approach to the first chicane,
they are actually reaching close to 360km/h. As a result of these high speeds and low down forces, the tyres experience very high centrifugal forces, which can put stress on various parts of the tyre. Tyres for Monza, therefore, must be strong. The tyres are also rotating at such a high frequency that there is a lot of heat generated, particularly when braking hard from top speeds. Consequently, heat durability is a key issue in Monza while wear
rates tend not to be so critical. Stability under braking is also key to a good lap time. And finally, Monza has no fewer than three chicanes which means that the performance of our tyres when changing direction will also be very important. All in all, it's another challenging circuit and one we have been working hard to prepare for after all three of our teams had a productive test in Monza last week."