Phoenix

Optional · 11-08-11, 04:52 PM

God knows....

The changes will include a minor tweak to the banking in the corners, as well as a major adjustment to the backstretch dogleg.

Progressive banking will be added to the turns. Turns 1 and 2, which currently have 11 degrees of banking, will have 10 degrees on the bottom and 11 degrees on the top. Turns 3 and 4, which currently have 9 degrees of banking, will have 8 degrees on the bottom and 9 on the top.

The backstretch dogleg(highlighted in black and yellow stripes above) is currently more of a “jut”, so to speak, instead of an actual turn. It is also flat, which discourages two-wide racing. With the new changes, the dogleg will be more of a turn, with the same 10-11 degree progressive banking we’ll see in turns 1 and 2.
The frontstretch will also be widened by 10 feet.

The changes to the speedway will be significant. It will be interesting to see come this fall just how much the changes will affect the racing.

Hopefully it will affect it a lot. Phoenix is notorious for single-file racing in spite of its short-track reputation and configuration. With the new changes, hopefully more side-by-side racing will be encouraged, and we’ll see a great event at the 1-mile oval in the desert come November.

And if not, perhaps more changes will be in store.

Greek has made a guess and has some early lines up;

101 Tony Stewart +600
102 Carl Edwards +700
103 Jeff Gordon +700
104 Jimmie Johnson +700
105 Kyle Busch +800
106 Denny Hamlin +1200
107 Kevin Harvick +1200
108 Matt Kenseth +1200
109 Clint Bowyer +1500
110 Greg Biffle +1800
111 Kasey Kahne +1800
112 Brad Keselowski +2000
113 Ryan Newman +2000
114 Kurt Busch +2000
115 Dale Earnhardt Jr +3000
116 Mark Martin +4000
117 Jeff Burton +4000
118 Martin Truex Jr +5000
119 Jamie McMurray +5000
120 Field +1800

hawk 5 · 11-08-11, 10:57 PM

Guess I should of expected 5 favorites.

Optional · 11-09-11, 06:25 PM

Not a single change in odds at Greek 24 hours later. Everyone waiting...

Might take a little at 5D on Kurt +2200 and Jimmie +750

Don't really get the extra love for Smoke over other faves personally.

hawk 5 · 11-09-11, 08:15 PM

Smokes hot and tested great. They had the test session speeds at MRN earlier in the week.

Optional · 11-09-11, 08:33 PM

Oh thanks. Didn't think about that.

hawk 5 · 11-09-11, 08:35 PM

Went to Jaski's and Smoke was fastest on day 2 with chevy dominating top ten. Jimmy was 2nd on 2nd day. Test where done at start of oct this year.

Optional · 11-09-11, 08:36 PM

[ATTACH]34303[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]34305[/ATTACH]

hawk 5 · 11-09-11, 08:41 PM

Great job. If I knew how to do that I would have opti.

Optional · 11-09-11, 08:42 PM

Lucky you have me around then

Optional · 11-09-11, 08:44 PM

That 1/10th gap Smoke and JJ have over Harvick, and 2/10ths plus over everyone else, is significant when less than a second covers most of the field.

Although different track times and fuel loads could mean those times are useless anyway.

hawk 5 · 11-09-11, 08:45 PM

Yes I am.

hawk 5 · 11-09-11, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by Optional

That 1/10th gap Smoke and JJ have over Harvick, at 2/10ths plus over everyone else is significant when less than a seocnd covers most oft he field.

Although different track times and fuel loads could mean those times are useless anyway.

Been nice to get a 10 lap average, but this is better than nothing. The track will still be very hard to pass on so 1 lap speed will be very important.

hawk 5 · 11-10-11, 07:24 AM

48 +750. I'll take that at any non superspeedway.

Optional · 11-10-11, 06:36 PM

Yeah glad I have a little bit of Jimmie at that too.

Only Brad K is reported to have a new chassis this week (again)

And Kurt has an old BK car. Again... wtf is going on there?

Tires are pretty much the same as those goodyear supplied for Indy. Not sure if it means anything but all the Chevy teams seemed to have an edge there.

Junior and Ambrose are in the same cars they ran during the Phoenix test. Which can't hurt imho.

Optional · 11-11-11, 02:31 AM

like this one, with only 3 probable competitors too.

Sprint Cup Motor Racing Kobalt Tools 500 - Best Finish Group A : Jimmie Johnson +295
Kyle Busch, Hamlin, Harvick, Johnson, Kenseth

hawk 5 · 11-11-11, 06:53 AM

Are you saying Kyle won't run or he'll be doing so much tippy toeing he might just as well not.?

Optional · 11-11-11, 11:30 AM

I thought it was pretty certain he won't be running...

Vegas39 · 11-11-11, 12:01 PM

Only 1 play grabbed Newman +3000

Chevys will be strong if the 2 day practice they had holds to form

Optional · 11-11-11, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by Optional

I thought it was pretty certain he won't be running...

Should have checked news before saying that.

hawk 5 · 11-13-11, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by hawk 5

48 +750. I'll take that at any non superspeedway.

Adding Kenseth at +800 and Stewart at +550. Will add 1 more

hawk 5 · 11-13-11, 03:03 PM

Last one Jeff Burton +4000. Should have taken Edwards but not feeling him. GO BURTON GO!!! GL all.

Optional · 11-13-11, 07:02 PM

Bad luck Hawk.

Glad I missed the race. No way I would have backed Kahne. Probably would have thrown more good money after Jimmie in hindsight.

hawk 5 · 11-14-11, 07:28 AM

Yah, one of those weeks. Burton ran a top 5. Which paid me nothing just like the rest of my wagers.

Tseay · 11-14-11, 09:36 PM

Here are the Sprint cup standings, does anyone know how deep into this list is a reasonable guess?

1-Carl Edwards 2359
2-Tony Stewart 2356
3-Kevin Harvick 2308
4-Brad Keselowski 2294
5-Jimmie Johnson 2291
6-Matt Kenseth 2289
7-Dale Earnhardt Jr.2257
8-Kurt Busch 2252
8-Ryan Newman 2252
10-Denny Hamlin 2249
11-Jeff Gordon 2247
12-Kyle Busch 2224

hawk 5 · 11-14-11, 10:01 PM

Not sure I understand, but Stewart or Edwards are the only 2 with a chance to win the Chase.

5mike5 · 11-14-11, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by hawk 5

Not sure I understand, but Stewart or Edwards are the only 2 with a chance to win the Chase.

i didnt understand either...but what hawk said