Fun won the race in Phoenix, unfortunately, only temporarily, but in the end it was a surprise winner.
The track in Phoenix has so its peculiarities. First, it is quite fast, for others it is almost like a race track, because the superelevation is rather marginal. The mixture usually makes for an interesting race, that this year was complicated by the fact that it has extended for nearly one hour of race time. The thrust is not anywhere on reciprocal love to criticize but many teams and fans that the race be long enough anyway. But in this case, the extension has certainly paid off, because you started in the burning heat of the desert and then drove into the more purely cool night. You had so much mess around with the car. In the end it was again, a caution that the race course turned upside down.
The four riders surprise in the first two rows, Allmendinger, Speed, Hornish and Ambrose was only the beginning of the race the rest of the pack to keep behind. Even if you have all four times indulged a good race, but then sat down at the end of the experience of the big teams. When the race was over, Ambrose was on 11, Allmendinger to 21 on 15, 18 and Hornish to place speed Those are still respectable results, and shows that a forward launch site may well mean that you can out of the tussle in the midfield and keep it out of the possible accidents.
But others gave the front of the sound. Juan Pablo Montoya dominated the rather dull race by half-time partially as desired. While he sat in the meantime Tony Stewart in the neck, but in the early stages of the race was considered at the top and pull back hard maneuver allowed the Colombians. Further back, it made the Hendrick pilots comfortable. Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt drove at times inconspicuous first round race for the top ten. Only Mark Martin, who already had a bad quality, stuck firmly in the middle. Correct pitch and Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch had. The ex-champion misjudged in round 16 input Turn 2 and was on his way then even with Kahne, he sent back to the wall. The Ford was later a compact car and the race ended.
From the middle of the race was moving into the field, because with nightfall, the track conditions changed and you had to adjust the car. The best managed initially, not surprisingly, Jimmie Johnson, who grabbed Montoya and his leadership was. It looked once again after a Johnson victory, like the track so well, but the race was not over. Now had only started from 17th Kyle Busch pushed forward and created pressure. After a restart on lap 261 (Reutiman had a closer look at the wall), the younger Busch took the lead and stormed off the front just as it had done before Montoya and Johnson.
Travis Kvapil lost his engine on lap 314, causing a further Caution, very slightly ahead of the planned pit stops. This one was just as well on the screen to the race without another pit stop to take over, but the question was, of course, like tires would go the distance. After the restart on lap 321 Kyle Busch sat down directly from what she had to do with the fact that you were not always united behind him. As soon as you start trying to Montoya's third to drive in Turn 1, which in the end means that he lost several places. In third place was Gordon, who gave but a remarkable duel with Clint Bowyer. Some went one round long side by side. To place 10, scuffled Martin, Harvick, Edwards, Allmendinger and Hornish. Ryan Newman, who had rather a tough race, pushed towards the end of fifth place
But NASCAR would not be NASCAR if it is not the end but would crash again. Busch sailed towards a deserved victory, but then Scott Riggs burst a tire three laps to go - Caution. All proceeds of course to the pits, but Johnson and Busch make the mistake of the GWC to take four tires while the rest is down to two. A few waived completely for the change. And so then the boot sequence: 1 Jeff Gordon second Ryan Newman third Mark Martin 4 Matt Kenseth fifth AJ Allmendinger. Busch and Johnson no trace.
Tony Stewart had already shown at the start of the race, that with two tires quite a few rounds could be competitive. Why is the crew chief of the Johnson and Bush did not have on the screen is a little puzzle.
The restart saw Gordon briefly lead but Ryan Newman had a mean seizure energy and pushed past the Hendrick drivers. White Flag and the matter was settled. Johnson dashed in the end still in third place, Kyle Busch became only the eighth and was eaten accordingly. Montoya, who had so long came out first, at least in 5th place finish.
Montoya was satisfied at the end, because what the needs are now continuing such results. He is still about 130 points away from 12th place. This is not an easy thing with the Chase, but not impossible.
Other drivers:
- Junior was again a tough weekend. He was quite good in the race, but did not ran to the top. As always, there is a lack of improvement of the car during the race. He is 50% of the race in close contact to the top, then it leaves him and he usually slips. He eventually finished 12th
- Max Papis pushed his car into the field of quality, but then his Toyota overheated and he was only ranked 40th That does not help him in the battle for the top 35th
- Denny Hamlin drove well known, with a newly operated knee and had Casey Mears are available as replacements. He went through the race but, amazingly, and was ranked 30th
- Joey Logano also had a difficult race, but ended up in 10th place The youngster now sets out a very good season, his chances of winning the Chase are definitely there.
- When the NASCAR "Start and Park" teams made it clear that it is no longer tolerate, if not even a qualified car is attempting to drive a race distance, are the teams from their cars now very late. First loss in Phoenix McDowell was 149th in lap
Next week is the ultra-fast oval in Texas on the program. There will then also show what the new spoiler so everything changed. One gets the impression that the cars are now a bit unstable at the rear axle, but also draften better. Will be exciting.
Related posts:
So after I saw last night on STV and the summary, given the late start time, I was glad not to have seen the race: D Especially the # 11 yes to the OP really could not keep up, but not surprisingly.
At ServusTV: I found really great, the KRO was there was great and if he behaves so well in F1, so instead of bringing the action over with enthusiasm with slogans on RTL-level, that would really great.
We have just skipped some how I had the impression (reason for the last Caution, racing over the # 11) but Zipser just has a lot of well explained, because it was the first race and one has only ne half hour for the IF.
What I was not well liked, was that at the end was quite short. KRO said in the next race, spoke of Dega, siganture routes and restrictor-plate races and that would be good again just could interpret and explain (not natural to me ;-))
But otherwise: THUMBS UP! Let's hope that more shows soon, or at least something with the transmission time from sliding forward.
If anyone has not seen and it is not repeated: I received the shipment oup habs and gladly somewhere ...
Regards
Jan!!