Nashville, Tennessee – Firestone will remain the sole tyre supplier for all IndyCar racing under a long-term agreement between Bridgestone America and Penske Entertainment.

The term of the agreement announced Thursday was not specified. However, the agreement will preserve Firestone as the exclusive tyre supplier for all IndyCar races, the INDY NXT developmental series, and the Indianapolis 500. Firestone is in its 25th year as IndyCar’s tire provider, with the season finale on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway.

Firestone Remains Indycar’s Tire Supplier Under Bridgestone And Penske Deal

Bridgestone America’s executive chairman and CEO, Paolo Ferrari, stated that Firestone has been a part of world-class racing since winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

“We believe motorsports are the ultimate challenge for premium performance and a proving ground for advancing in our goals towards sustainable innovation,” according to a statement from Ferrari. “Our relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has been a critical part of these efforts, and we are proud to keep driving forward together.”

Bridgestone has tested and developed new materials through its Firestone brand, the IndyCar Series, and other partnerships. The company employed components from hard-to-recycle plastics and palm oil waste leftover for tires used in the last two Indianapolis 500s. Natural rubber has been used in the sidewalls of alternate race tires for the past two seasons.

 Remains Indycar’s Tire Supplier Under Bridgestone And Penske Deal

Roger Penske, chairman of the Penske Corporation, stated that Firestone has been a basis for racing since its inception and that this agreement extends their “long-term partnership” into the future.

“Our relationship with the team at Bridgestone continues to set an industry standard for success and innovation,” Mr. Penske added.

SOURCE | AP

(VOR News) – According to the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was forced to leave the game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday as a result of a concussion.

During a fourth-down scramble in the third quarter, Tua Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Damar Hamlin when he slid to the ground. At the moment that Tagovailoa was lying on the pitch, his teammates immediately requested the assistance of trainers.

However, Tua Tagovailoa eventually walked away on his own.

According to Kaylee Hartung of Amazon, Tagovailoa encountered his wife and two children in the Dolphins locker room.

“We have been informed that he is conscious, awake, and alert, just as he was leaving this field on his own initiative,” Hartung informed the audience on the broadcast following the Bills’ 31-10 victory. Furthermore, it is purported that he is capable of moving all of his extremities.

Upon observing Tua Tagovailoa in the locker room, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel declared that he was “in good spirits.” McDaniel declined to provide an update on the potential return of Tua Tagovailoa when questioned.

McDaniel declared following the game, “At present, the primary objective is to obtain a comprehensive procedural evaluation tomorrow and subsequently proceed with the matter on a day-to-day basis.” “The timeframe is the most distant from my mind.

The sole requirement is to evaluate. I, like the other males, am preoccupied with my teammate. We will proceed on a daily basis after receiving additional information tomorrow.

In the past season, Tua Tagovailoa played in every Dolphins game.

In 2022, he was limited to 13 games as a result of two concussions.

During a Thursday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals that season, Tagovailoa sustained his first concussion, exhibiting the “fencing response” when his cranium collided with a sack.

After a controversy in which the NFL Players Association alleged that Tagovailoa was not properly tested for a concussion in a game against Buffalo four days prior, the player sustained a concussion against the Bengals.

The NFLPA was compelled to terminate the independent neurotrauma expert who was responsible for removing players from the field who appeared to have sustained head injuries as a result of Tagovailoa’s injury during that game, which prevented him from being evaluated for a concussion.

A new concussion protocol has been implemented by NFL players as a consequence of the scandal.

However, the diagnosis was not made until the day after the contest, when Tagovailoa sustained another concussion during a game against the Green Bay Packers later in the season.

Tua Tagovailo reported that his parents had encouraged him to consider retirement after his concussions in 2022, but he ultimately elected to continue playing after consulting with a physician. This information was disclosed prior to the season.

“We visited the physician…” According to Meadowlark Media’s Dan Le Batard, Tagovailoa stated, “I had to obtain all the necessary information to determine whether it was a good idea or not to continue playing.” He also mentioned that his parents encouraged him to continue performing.

With the fifth decision in the 2020 draft, the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa, who is currently in his fifth season of playing. He achieved the highest number of passing yards in the NFL with 4,624 in the previous season. As of Thursday, he had a career record of 33-19, with 82 touchdowns and 37 interceptions.

In July, Tua Tagovailoa executed a four-year, $212.4 million contract with the Dolphins, which incorporated a $167 million guarantee.

On Thursday, Skylar Thompson assumed the role of quarterback in place of Tagovailoa, stating that seeing his teammate’s ordeal “made me sick.”

After the game, he said, “In my position, you never want your opportunity to come with something like that.” “My love for Tua is boundless.” We have a great rapport. I pray for Tua and believe everything will work out.

SOURCE: NBC

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(VOR News) – The Pac-12 is pulling institutions from the Mountain West, where poaching nearly wiped them out.

On Thursday, the Pacific-12 Conference of Champions announced that Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Oregon State, and Washington State will join in 2026.

Four of the Mountain West’s top institutions and football programs—including Boise State—have left due to expansion. Because the Pac- is two institutions short of the eight it needs to have in two years to be approved by the NCAA, more adjustments are expected.

Mountain West exit costs and penalties totaling $110 million will likely fall on the Pac-12 and departing institutions.

This is an incredible comeback for a conference that was thought to be dead a year ago when ten of its members left for other leagues after failing to land a big media rights contract that would have allowed former Pac-12 schools like Stanford, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and others to compete.

“The Pac-12 Conference has been recognised as a leading brand in intercollegiate athletics for over a century,” stated Commissioner Teresa Gould. “We look for innovative and risk-taking developments that will help student-athletes and member schools.

The Pac-12 Conference enters a thrilling new chapter today.

The Pac-12 evaluates prospective new members based on academic and athletic performance, media and brand assessment, dedication to athletic excellence, geography and logistics, and student-athlete culture and welfare.

Pac-12

Oregon State and Washington State are the only teams left in the Pac-12 because of NCAA rules that give them two years to play. Washington State President Kirk Schulz and Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said hello to their new conference partners in a statement.

Added, “We look forward to their incredibly perceptive contributions during this pivotal period for conference and collegiate athletics.”

Oregon State and Washington State will play six Mountain West teams this season per their schedules. The initial deal extension deadline of September 1st passed.

The Pac-12 agreed to pay millions if it took Mountain West universities.

Oregon and Washington should be able to afford the remaining fees. The institutions have $250 million in assets from the two remaining years of the College Football Playoff agreement, a Rose Bowl contract that expires after 2025, recent NCAA men’s basketball tournament revenue, and Pac-12 Network assets, despite their public denials.

For the current and future academic year, Oregon State and Washington State will be West Coast Conference affiliates for men’s and women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.

Leading the pack

Unless invited by a large conference, Oregon State and Washington State authorities have prioritised Pac-12 maintenance since the breakup.

While the Pac-12 is unlikely to ever again be considered a significant conference like the Big Ten, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, and Big 12, it is trying to shine, especially in football.

The most notable addition is Boise State, which has had the greatest and most stable football program outside the majors for almost 20 years. Since joining the WAC in 2002, the Broncos have had 16 seasons with 10+ wins.

What a great day to be a Bronco! Boise State sports director Jeramiah Dickey said.

Boise State is finally advancing, but its Conference of Champions roots are barely visible in the Pac-12 it joins.

Three difficult years of conference realignment in collegiate athletics, which began this year and brought the super conference era, ended with the Pac-12’s dissolution.

There are 18 Big Ten coast-to-coast universities. Stanford and California, former Pac-12 teams, are among 17 ACC football teams. Both Big 12 and SEC have 16 schools.

Instead of joining the 12-member Mountain West, the Pac-12 may create a smaller conference.

Keep back

Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii as a football-only member, and an unclear future will be the Mountain West’s last members.

Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the MWC board of directors met late Wednesday to discuss future steps.

If they quit, “all members will be held to conference bylaws and policies,” she said. If the Pac-12 admits Mountain West members, the scheduling agreement will apply.

SOURCE: AP

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