Gallery/Video: The Magic Rings

One of the stops on the 2008 Indy 500 Media Tour was the top secret warehouse that stores Firestone Racing’s “Magic Rings”. In fact, so top secret is the location of this warehouse that tour attendees were blindfolded, transported via passenger bus, and subjected to rigorous background checks by armed guards prior to entering the facility.

Okay, so I made most of that up. In fact, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what gracious hosts the folks at Firestone were. But it does make the story that much better. Or does it?

At any rate, the “Magic Rings” are of course Firestone tires. If you are not already familiar with the legend of the Magic Rings, you should take a moment to view this outstanding commercial produced by Firestone. (Note that this is a video posted to YouTube by a third party, it could disappear at any time)

Here is the script of the story told in the commercial:

Once upon a time, long ago, there was a humble man who came to town, bearing a most unusual gift. The gift of the magic rings.

These rings were not shiny, nor made of precious metals. But they would, said the man, allow people to do amazing things.

On these magic rings, he told all who would listen, mortal men can fly. And though some laughed, many more believed. And those who believed, did indeed fly. Faster and farther than anyone thought possible. And people came from far and wide to watch, and to wonder.

As the years passed, the legend of the magic rings grew.

And today, from every corner of the world, the people still come. They watch, they cheer, and they wonder.

Because now, just as always, the magic rings are available to all who would have them.

Where will the magic rings take you?

I’m just going to be honest here… the more I watch that commercial the more it gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes. And the more I want to watch it again. Very well done, folks.

By the way, if you didn’t catch it, the three gentlemen at the beginning of the commercial were Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone. Apparently the three men were great friends.

Prior to a tour of the facility, Firestone official Al Speyer announced the “Firestone Indy 500 Final Qualifier Award”, a $50,000 prize to the last entry to make the Indy 500 field on “Bump Day”.

Firestone’s TJ Tennent also announced the “Magic Rings Concept” where late in the IndyCar Series season, drivers still in contention for the championship would use tires with white sidewalls, making it easy for fans to see which drivers were still in the fight. Still in conceptual form, the idea has not yet been approved by Firestone or the IndyCar Series.

After the tour, Vision Racing driver A.J. Foyt IV and team manager Larry Curry took questions from the audience.

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