Al Speyer, who helped lead Firestone’s triumphant return to open-wheel racing in the mid-1990s and became an influential motorsports executive during a pivotal period in INDYCAR history, died Oct. 27 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 73.
Speyer’s nearly 39-year career with Bridgestone Americas featured not only Firestone’s return to INDYCAR but the assurance it remained there as the exclusive tire supplier.
When Speyer joined Firestone in May 1974, the brand that won the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 was nearing an exit from the sport. A decade later, Speyer was part of the launch of the Firehawk Racing program in 1984 and the introduction of Firestone Indy Lights (now INDY NXT by Firestone) in 1990.
These initiatives marked pivotal steps toward Firestone’s re-entry into full-time INDYCAR SERIES competition in 1995 and the brand’s celebrated return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1996, Buddy Lazier gave Firestone its first “500” victory in 25 years.
Please visit: https://www.indycar.com/news/2025/10/10-30-speyer-obit
for a more complete biography on Al Speyer’s incredible career.
