Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is expected today to announce it’s pulling out of the Indy Racing League(IRL) and Championship Auto Racing Teams(CART). Supposedly there will be a press release issued this morning from headquarters in Akron, Ohio, and it will state Goodyear is ending its 36-year run in Indy cars( SpeedNet ) — UPDATE: in part from the Goodyear PR: As a result of the withdrawal, 18 engineering associates will transfer to other positions within Goodyears Akron Technical Center while approximately 60 manufacturing positions will be eliminated. Goodyear is presently involved in the largest expansion period in the companys 101-year history and is focusing its efforts and resources on growing the companys business activities on numerous fronts. As part of those expansion plans, Goodyear recently became the worlds largest tire manufacturer following a strategic alliance with Japans Sumitomo Rubber Industries and the companys Dunlop tire brand. As a result of the integration, Goodyears annual sales are expected to increase by $2.5 billion in 2000, see the complete PR at TNN’s Motorsports Site , plus Goodyear will not supply tires to the ASA circuit as BF Goodrich will supply the tires and become the series title sponsor( SpeedVision )
