Phoenix single groove racing

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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I really hope that it's not going to be the case come Sunday but it sounds like the Nationwide drivers are really struggling with this new surface. I guess we'll find out in practice later this morning.

Phoenix surface has drivers concernced.

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Elliott Sadler didn't mince words when asked if he'd tried to make a pass on the new surface at Phoenix International Raceway.

"Heck no," Sadler said during Thursday's test session at the one-mile facility. "I actually got to the 82 (Reed Sorenson) that was about a half a second of a lap slower than I was. I really couldn't do anything with him.

"I didn't want to make a move, definitely on the outside, to make a pass."

With the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series championships up for grabs with two races remaining, there is growing concern with how the surface will impact the racing and title runs this weekend at PIR.

Sadler, who is 17 points behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the Nationwide Series, said the track as it is with only one groove may be a bigger wild card than Talladega.

"We have been fearing this race for the last three months," he said.

Brad Keselowski, who is fifth in the Cup standings where Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart are separated by only three points, said "we're all worried about what's going to happen."

He, too, was afraid to get out of the groove to pass. The few times he got into the high lane wasn't by choice.

"It found me and I found it," the defending Nationwide champion said. "We weren't looking for each other. It's just very, very slick. There's just a lack of stability."

NASCAR and the track have done what it can to rubber in the track since it was repaved and reconfigured after the February race. Sadler is hoping a few hot days will help bring in at least another half a lane "to create the kind of racing these guys want to see."

There is, however, a chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday that could change that.

Keselowski said it might take a year to make the track race-able.

"I don't think any of us know," he said. "I hate to make a guess because I've never been in this situation."

Aric Almirola said the track got better as Thursday's test went along, noting he picked up two seconds a lap from his early runs. But when asked if he tried to pass, the JR Motorsports drivers said, "No! Outside that one lane, it's pretty slick."

Drivers are hoping after two Cup practices and a Nationwide practice on Friday conditions will improve.

"At some point we've all got to man up and get out there and race, make it happen," Keselowski said. "There are obstacles every weekend. This is just a new set of obstacles."
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the chase tracks should be rotated and those newly resurfaced shouldn't get a race for 2 years.
 
FlFlash said:
It will "Widen Out" once they get racing on it No Worrys :rolleyes:
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Yeah, because we all know how good these tires are at putting down rubber. :rolleyes:

I'm glad to hear that GY brought a softer tire for this race, but I'm not sure it will be enough to keep the rubber from being completely pulled up during the caution laps.
 
I'm worrying. I hope it's all for not. I'd like to see a good end to this season but it's starting to sound like they'll be running single file. Maybe that will bring in the bump & run? And if that's the case, Kyle had better mind his manners. That would put him at a huge disadvantage.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Maybe that will bring in the bump & run? And if that's the case, Kyle had better mind his manners. That would put him at a huge disadvantage.
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I'm hoping it does bring back some contact racing where speed rules rather than position. If the high groove is as slick as drivers are saying, it could get ugly........real ugly.
 
During the testing period several weeks ago, it took them forever to finally get some rubber put down. If everybody is rooting around on the bottom, there won't be many cars out of the groove to get a second groove going until late in the race. It will make those restarts very interesting.
 
I've seen single groove racing before, and it is boooorrrriiinnngggggg! All it is, is follow the leader. :mad:
 
3,000 miles were run in Richard Petty Driving Experience Stock Cars on the new surface

On Tuesday, six drivers finished two days of lapping exclusively in the high line, attempting to work in the new surface and avoid a single-file, high-speed racing parade. Past Nationwide series champions Randy LaJoie and Steve Grissom were joined by nine-time ARCA titlist Frank Kimmel plus Tim Fedewa, Brad Noffsinger and Andy Thurman.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/spe...-pir-track-grooves-repaved.html#ixzz1dQAu7ZZW
 
"First, a machine dragged more than 80 tires for about 90 hours over 12 days around the middle and top of the speedway."

If all that didn't create a second groove, what chance do 43 cup cars have?

Nobody drives loose better than Tony, while Carl tends to over correct when things get real slick. I see a #99 backed into a wall this weekend.
 
FenderBumper said:
"First, a machine dragged more than 80 tires for about 90 hours over 12 days around the middle and top of the speedway."

If all that didn't create a second groove, what chance do 43 cup cars have?

Nobody drives loose better than Tony, while Carl tends to over correct when things get real slick. I see a #99 backed into a wall this weekend.
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43 x 4 = 172 Tires supporting 3400 lb cars making 140 mph laps will put a hell of alot more rubber down than dragging some tires supporting no weight around behind a pickup truck doing 30 mph.
 
FlFlash said:
43 x 4 = 172 Tires supporting 3400 lb cars making 140 mph laps will put a hell of alot more rubber down than dragging some tires supporting no weight around behind a pickup truck doing 30 mph.
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They showed the machine, and it turns out it isn't dragging tires at all. It grinds 4 belts made of a softer compound than the race tires over the track surface. I guess the press didn't understand what they were being told, which probably was that the equivilent of 80 tires worth of rubber had been laid down.

Still no second groove after all that. They won't even try to pass during practice because it's too slick even halfway out of the low line.
 
FenderBumper said:
They showed the machine, and it turns out it isn't dragging tires at all. It grinds 4 belts made of a softer compound than the race tires over the track surface. I guess the press didn't understand what they were being told, which probably was that the equivilent of 80 tires worth of rubber had been laid down.

Still no second groove after all that. They won't even try to pass during practice because it's too slick even halfway out of the low line.
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I have'nt seen the machine, there's a higher groove coming in just so far the bottom groove has more grip and is Much Faster, it will be a good race.
 
FlFlash said:
I have'nt seen the machine, there's a higher groove coming in just so far the bottom groove has more grip and is Much Faster, it will be a good race.
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That's good news FL. I would hate to see this championship decided by the luck of the draw coming off pit road after a late caution.......unless it meant Kez won. ;)
 
There will be lots of practice laps run between CUP, N'wide and K&N Series cars. There will also be a K&N race and a N'wide race prior to the CUP race. By Sunday, the track should be pretty well rubbered in.

K&N runs GoodYear Tires, right?
 
Why didn't they bring the cup cars in a day early for practice? They could've used yesterday as an all day practice to put laps on the track.
 
We took the golf cart out on the track last night and ran in the outside groove......it's fine now :rolleyes:
 
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