The tires are unmistakably Goodyear Eagle race tires, albeit in a newboldfont. Bill Egan, chief engineer of advanced tire technology, said the GT40retro-rocket features 18- and 19-inch ultra-performance tires.
The concept tires make an impact that stand out in a crowd. "Like thecaritself, they're hard to miss," Egan said. "One look and you can see theemotion, the speed, the performance, the competitive spirit."
Egan said Ford's announcement that it will build the GT40 to helpcelebrate the automaker's 100th anniversary in 2003 revived memories of anunbeatable Ford-Shelby-Goodyear alliance at France's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ford, so determined to push Ferrari and Porsche from the Le Manswinner'scircle in the 1960s, developed one of the most successful racing efforts inhistory, beginning with the GT40s.
Goodyear Blue Streak race tires, featured on Carroll Shelby's Cobras,became the tire of choice on the GT40 -- at least, eventually.
Goodyear board chairman Russell DeYoung, who was tired of competitortireswinning Le Mans, gave the orders to "Beat those guys." Former racingdirectorLeo Mehl's boss told him, "Leo, we want to win this one, so do whatever youhave to do. If anybody gives you any static, you come straight to me."