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Bridgestone Firestone Returns To Belle IsleDetroit Grand Prix sponsor builds second playground in historic park

NOVI, Mich. (August 21, 2008) – Where the roar of race car engines meets the laughter of children at play, there also is Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT).

BFNT, through its Consumer OE Tire division based in Novi, Mich., is again supporting its home community as the company continues to invest in recreational equipment for historic Belle Isle Park. For the second consecutive year, BFNT will build a new playground in the park in conjunction with the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (Aug. 29-31), a world-class racing event featuring the cars of the IndyCar® Series, the American Le Mans® Series™ and the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Championship. BFNT was instrumental in helping to bring racing back to Detroit in 2007 and the company returns this year as the presenting sponsor of the Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone (Aug. 31).

Thanks to BFNT, young race fans will enjoy not only the thrill of motorsports competition but also a newly constructed 2,700-square-foot playground. Located near the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Corvette Car Corrals (north of Central Ave. between Picnic Way and Inselruhe Ave.) the recreation area features fun activities for children ages two to 12, including four swings and a play system complete with a stainless steel slide, trunk climber, overhead loop ladder, laced climbing wall and Xcelerator spinner.

In 2007, BFNT’s Consumer OE Tire division built a similar playground on the island’s southeast corner (adjacent to the Newsboy Picnic Shelter #1) to commemorate the return of professional racing to Belle Isle after a six-year absence.

“As a recreational gathering place for citizens for more than 120 years, Belle Isle is among Detroit’s greatest cultural icons,” said Michael Martini, President, Consumer OE Tire Division, BFNT. “It’s exciting to watch the crowd descend on race day, to hear the engines rev, to see vibrant banners waving in the wind and children, wide-eyed and overcome with excitement. All of this helps breathe new life into Belle Isle again. This is our gift to the city and to the Detroit community.”

Martini went on to say he expects the enhancement of the historic nearly 1,000-acre island park to continue as an annual endeavor of the Consumer OE Tire division of BFNT which embraces many other community outreach initiatives. These efforts include the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology’s (DIO) annual EyesOn Design Automotive Design Show to benefit the visually impaired and blind; the Paul W. Smith Golf Classic to raise funds for Think Detroit PAL; and Habitat for Humanity® of Oakland County, which BFNT has assisted to construct seven new residential homes in the Pontiac, Mich. area since 2002.

To learn more about the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, visit www.detroitgp.com.

For more information about Belle Isle, as well as a calendar of events, visit the City of Detroit Web site at www.detroitmi.gov.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.