Phoenix 2017

[pmossberg]

Sigh...more of the same.

Aric 29th in first practice.

[jlp4345]

Why in the world they will never take a chance at the end of these races is beyond me. I mean what in the world do they have to lose. He was running 16th when the caution comes out with 4 laps left, knowing it's gonna be a green white checker when it goes back green, they come in and take 4 and drop to 20th, only to gain 3 and finish 17th. And they are all congratulating themselves on the radio with that saying good job, we got all we could get today and such. If they had just stayed out, yeah they would probably have lost a few but dang, Newman stays and wins, Stenhouse stayed and finished 4th, and Truex 11th. It's only 2 laps, why do they not ever just try something different ever.

[pmossberg]

In the race report, Aric says the car was much better on short runs, so they agree to come in and change four tires for the final restart.

I guess the gamble was they would finish stronger with fresh tires, then they would by staying out on older tires.

Who knows?

[pb1945]

I wondered the same thing myself. I'm sure they knew it was going to be a green white checkered, it would seem to me the car would have had to be beyond pitiful not to make it 2 laps. Of course it may have been that pitiful. This was one of the few races lately where I have seen Aric actually pass several cars unfortunately the same ones again and again.

If they want to stop the fall it better happen now. Points wise they are being left quickly. From what I see you no longer actually need a win to get into the post season, having one gets you on the post season eligible, getting a win is a big hill to climb for RPM.

I may be wrong but I only see a real possibility of a win on the mile or shorter tracks. Tis sad but that's the way it is.

I think at California we will GET LEFT as usual

Sure would love a surprise.

Dan