Carpentier praises best Bridgestones ever.

Patrick Carpentier ran among the leaders and took control when misfortune claimed his main competitors today, earning his second career victory in the FedEx Championship Series and first on Potenza tyres since Bridgestone became the Official Tire of CART this year. Carpentier drove his Player's/Forsythe Ford/Reynard on Bridgestone tires to a 17-second win over Michael Andretti.

After the triumph, Carpentier paid immediate credit to the tyres for holding up so mightily over the punishing bumps and transitions around the temporary circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport. "The Bridgestone tires here were the best I think we've ever had," said Carpentier, who led a race-high 66 laps. "They stayed the same from lap one until the last lap, and that really helps.

"I'm really happy," Carpentier added. "This is my first road course win since I've been in CART and this weekend was fantastic. This weekend it was our team that had everything perfect."

Runner-up Michael Andretti was certainly pleased with his rubber: "The Bridgestone tyres got better as the stint went on today. They never went off ... as usual. I was pretty happy. We tried really hard but I just didn't have the whole package today. We needed this finish real bad, so I'm happy for Team Motorola."

It was a busy weekend all round for Bridgestone as Joe Barbieri, Project Supervisor of Bridgestone Motorsport explains: "Bridgestone entertained 700 employees, dealers, sales associates and guests today, and they witnessed a tremendous showing by the Potenza tyres that were developed and produced nearby at our Advanced Technology Workshop in Akron."

"The Bridgestone engineers designed a new compound formula that debuted this weekend and it performed flawlessly. Comments like those from Patrick Carpentier and Michael Andretti about the tires getting better and lasting all day mirror those we heard up and down pit lane all weekend. Bridgestone is proud to be the Official Tire of CART and to contribute to the high level of competition we see each and every race weekend."