In IndyCar’s effort towards environmental sustainability, one of many world’s largest tire producers will depend on a desert shrub to supply a brand new supply of pure rubber for its tires.

Bridgestone Americas mentioned Thursday it has used the offseason to include extra sustainable and bio-circular supplies into its tires this season. That made it potential for Firestone to offer tires with rubber derived from the guayule desert shrub in any respect 5 road circuits of the 17-race IndyCar season.

The tires will make their season debut in subsequent week’s opener on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg. The tires have been tried twice final season – throughout the pit-stop problem on the Indianapolis 500 and the road race at Nashville.

“We’re driving sustainability in each space of our enterprise, and we’re thrilled to be advancing guayule and different sustainable practices in America’s premier open-wheel racing collection,” mentioned Paolo Ferrari, CEO of Bridgestone Americas. “Firestone has an incredible legacy of innovation and efficiency in racing, which we are going to proceed to construct upon as we transfer into this new period of cleaner, safer and extra sustainable mobility on and off the monitor.”

Bridgestone final yr superior an extra $42 million to determine industrial operations for planting and harvesting the rubber-rich guayule shrub. The guayule plant, which is native to Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States, bears small white flowers and slim silvery leaves that grows in scorching, arid desert areas with loads of solar and little water.

Along with the to the guayule road tires, nearly all of race tires used this season can be manufactured on the energy-efficient Superior Take a look at Manufacturing Middle. The middle acquired Worldwide Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS recognition for its transparency and traceability of sustainable uncooked supplies.

Additionally, Firestone will use ISCC mass steadiness licensed artificial rubber made with recycled plastics in all race tires throughout the Indianapolis 500.