IndyCar: Passing will be the overriding concern going into Saturday night’s race at PIR.
Dixon led final 155 laps on his way to victory last year
Shalt thou pass? That’s not only the overriding question going into Saturday evening’s Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix, but of the IndyCar season.
In fact, 2014 series champion Will Power recently admitted: “I think it’s near impossible to pass these days.”
Scott Dixon led the final 155 laps in last year’s IndyCar return to Phoenix International Raceway, as drivers talked about the rocket-like racers having too much downforce and the groove being too narrow. All involved promised to “get it right” for 2017.
The best hope, perhaps, is Firestone’s new softer-compound right-side tire. The right tires do most of the work on left-hand turn oval courses and softer means it won’t last as long. Drivers call it “degradation.” As the tires’ performance falls off, driver skill becomes more important, and – it’s hoped – passing will increase.
“I believe it will be better, just because of what Firestone did,” says threetime Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. “How much, I don't know.”
IndyCar has allowed some more aerodynamic downforce, which uses air pressure to push a car down into the track, making it more stable.
Another potential entertainment-enhancer is this afternoon’s USAC Silver Crown race. Those cars race on Hoosier tires. That different rubber compound usually doesn’t match well with Firestone’s and may create handling issues for IndyCar drivers.
“I think that could shake things up early in the race,” said Paul Tracy, a former driver and now an NBCSN analyst.
“Anytime we race after the Silver Crowns or (NASCAR) Trucks, where the tire is so different, the handling is a lot less predictable,” said Tim Cindric, president of Team Penske, with drivers Castroneves, Power, Josef Newgarden and reigning series champion Simon Pagenaud. James Hinchcliffe, winner of the recent Long Beach Grand Prix, said, “We have done, as a series, what we think will help the problem. Ultimately, until we race, we’re not really going to know.”
Qualifying
Castroneves won the PIR pole for the second consecutive year with a 2-lap track record average of 194.905 mph. Power completed a Penske Chevrolet front row. Defending race winner Scott Dixon will start eighth.
Penske’s ‘New’ winner
Roger Penske, the record 16-time Indy 500 winning car owner, said he had to hire Newgarden to replace Juan Pablo Montoya. Why?
“Someone was going to get him, and he'll be a champion,” Penske said.
Newgarden is like the first-round NFL draft choice who, after a few years, becomes a prized free agent. Newgarden, 26, won three races in five seasons for two smaller budget teams. When his contract was up, he had the luxury of choosing from several offers. He won his third start for Penske last weekend in Birmingham, Ala.
“You’re expected to do your job ,” said Newgarden, who had Cindric switch from Power to be his race strategist. “You are supposed to contribute, be a team player, know the car, be good with your (corporate) partners and be successful on the track.
“I know what my job criteria is. That makes me feel less nervous. Maybe I feel a little extra pressure to meet their standards. I don't need to reinvent the wheel this year. It was cool just to receive a Team Penske contract with my name on it.”
Newgarden first spoke with Penske after he won the 2011 Indy Lights championship. It was an unusual meeting.
“We didn't know if he was interviewing us or we were interviewing him,” Penske recalled.
“I think maybe I talked too much,” Newgarden said.
He earned added respect last year, winning a few weeks after breaking his collarbone in a violent crash when hit by Conor Daly at Texas Motor Speedway.
“It showed desire,” said four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears, a Penske consultant. “Part of that is you love what you're doing. You put the pain on the backburner and keep moving forward.”
Santos on pole
Chris Windom, winner of the last three USAC Silver Crown races, isn’t expected to start today’s Copper Cup 100 due to unrepairable car damage after he crashed during qualifying. Even though Windom’s wins were all on dirt tracks, his likely absence gives pole winner Bobby Santos (141.945 mph) and No. 2 qualifier Kody Swanson even more of a chance to shine in USAC’s first PIR appearance since 2009. Unlike NASCAR and IndyCar, aerodynamics isn’t a factor with the front-engine Silver Crown cars, reminders of what Indy 500 racers were like until the early 1960s.