Executive, innovator

The Syracuse grad spearheaded Bridgestone/Firestone’s 1995 return to IndyCar after a 20+-year absence and ultimate dominance of one of America’s premier forms of motorsports. By the end of 1999, Firestone radials had won 19 of 20 CART and 4 of 10 IRL races, its last year of direct competition with Goodyear. Since then, every IndyCar race including all 21 Indianapolis 500s have been won by Firestone (or briefly Bridgestone) tires. Speyer also provided crucial support to North America’s premier open-wheel series throughout the 12-year IRL vs. CART/Champ Car split, sponsoring events and, for three years, the Champ Car series itself. In 2004, he led the introduction of race-day use of different compound tires, identified by colored sidewalls, to increase fan knowledge/engagement. It was soon adopted by Bridgestone in F1 and today is standard practice in both series. Speyer further innovated as Delta Wing race car President and COO and was instrumental in Bridgestone/Firestone’s late-20^th century involvement in IMSA’s Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship, the Bridgestone Supercar Championship and Firestone (later Dayton) Indy Lights ladder series.