21.   The congressional investigation last year into the tire problems was led by Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., who owns a Ford Explorer.

22.   Their lawsuit was settled after Brogdon found a Firestone engineer who knew of the tire problems.

23.   Tire separation problems do not happen instantaneously, Egan said.

24.   Unlike the tire battle in stock-car racing last year, which saw numerous tire problems and accidents, this one has been safe.

25.   Ralf Schumacher was third but was a lap back in his Williams after forced into an unplanned second pit stop because of a tire problem.

26.   A tire problem and a fuel problem have hurt him this year.

27.   Burton had challenged Jarrett and Gordon until the tire problem.

28.   Ford maintains it is strictly a tire problem.

29.   He said the company is sharing information on the tire problem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trying to get at the root of the problem.

30.   Makinen, who was third last year, had trouble in the morning run with tire problems.