IndyCar Adjusts Tire Strategy for Abrasive Thermal Club Track
The Thermal Club's aggressive track surface poses unique challenges for IndyCar teams this weekend during its first championship motor race, leading IndyCar to modify its tire allocation strategy.
Teams will receive six sets of primary (harder) tires and four sets of alternate (softer) tires, deviating from the recent five-five split introduced at St. Petersburg. This adjustment aims to provide teams with more durable compounds to handle Thermal's abrasive surface.
Race car and pit crew members
Firestone's chief engineer, Cara Krstolic, explains that rather than making alternate tires softer, they've focused on enhancing the primary tires' durability and temperature resistance. This approach differs from other tracks due to Thermal's unique surface characteristics.
The 2025 event presents new challenges compared to last year's non-points race, as cars now carry an additional 105 pounds due to hybrid systems. Firestone has adapted its tire compounds to accommodate this weight increase while maintaining performance on the 3.067-mile circuit.
Following Thermal, IndyCar will return to the standard five-five tire allocation for the Long Beach Grand Prix in April. Driver feedback from St. Petersburg regarding the high-degradation alternates remains mixed, with some concerned about rapid performance drop-off while acknowledging IndyCar's strategy to enhance racing through tire management.