Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011
Kobalt Tools 500
Phoenix International Raceway
Dodge Motorsports PR
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
KEYS FOR SUCCESS: Kobalt Tools 500
AVONDALE, Ariz., (Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011) – Each race weekend, selected Dodge Motorsports engineers, Penske Racing engineers and crew chiefs, drivers or engine specialists give their insight on the ‘Keys for Success’ for the upcoming race. This week, Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports engineering – provides the keys for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.
Track: Phoenix International Raceway (Race 35 of 36 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series)
Race: Kobalt Tools 500 (312 laps / 312.0 miles, 500 kilometers)
Trivia Question: What Dodge driver won the pole for the 2001 Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix? (Answer Below)
HOWARD COMSTOCK (Dodge Motorsports Engineering)
Strategy: “I think the key to success for this race is going to be strategy. The groove over the last two days has widened a little bit, but it’s not two cars wide yet. What that forces a crew chief to do is he has to think strategy above everything else. If the track comes in and we build that second groove, the complexion will change. If it doesn’t come in, the crew chief and tire strategy could win this race. I think that you’ll see two-tire stops more the rule than the exception. I doubt that we’re going to see a caution-free race. When you do see those cautions, I think crew chiefs are going to think long and hard about stepping out of line to come to pit road to get tires that you may not be able to use if you’re stuck back in the field and can’t make passes.”
More Banking, Less Brakes: “Brakes aren’t nearly as big of a factor since the added banking in the turns. The banking allows the cars to run so much faster through the corners. Even though cars carry the same speed into the corners that we saw before the reconfiguration, the added banking allows faster speeds in the corner which means less braking.”
Track Position: “If you’re back in the pack and there is an early caution, earlier than you want to pit, you may have to just go ahead and pit, get your pit service, and then the next time the caution comes out, skip that stop. Get your place at the front of the field and hope it goes green long enough that the next time the caution comes, everybody has to pit. Then you have your track position, fresh tires and you’re in good shape.”
Unique Track, Unique Setup: “I think starting out this weekend, it was unique. As we end the weekend, I think you’ll see some more things that it has in common with other places. As Kurt Busch said, the track is considerably different than it was when we came for the tire test. I think the setups will evolve and eventually they’ll overlap some of the setups that we use at other places.”
Trivia Question Answer: Casey Atwood.
