Phoenix International Raceway Advance Notes
Race: Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday, Nov. 13
Track: Phoenix International Raceway (1.0-mile tri-oval)
Location: Avondale, Ariz.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Media Contacts at Phoenix International Raceway
Jeff Dowling No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet
Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet
NOTES
Follow EGR on Twitter: Continue to follow Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates on their official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No. 1 and No. 42 teams throughout the 2011 season by following “@EGRTeams”.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently launched one of the first mobile applications for the high-velocity world of racing. This new application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, IZOD IndyCar Series and Rolex GRAND-AM Series.
Jamie McMurray and No. 1 McDonald’s Team
McMurray at Phoenix: In McMurray’s NASCAR Sprint Cup career, he has made 16 starts at Phoenix International Raceway. In those races, he has scored one top-five, and two top-10 finishes, and has an average start of 16.6. He has completed 4,771 laps (94.3%) of a possible 5,062 laps run at the track, leading 28 of them. McMurray has been running at the finish in 13 of his 16 races. His career best start and finish at the one-mile tri-oval came in November of 2008 when he qualified on the outside pole and finished third.
About Texas: The No. 1 team worked hard to keep the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet on pace with the leaders during the long green flag runs, as the race was slowed by caution only five times for 21 laps. Unfortunately McMurray fell off the pace after slight contact with the wall near the halfway point of the race. The No. 1 team made repairs and was able to stay on the lead lap, however the effort was spoiled when McMurray reported motor issues and was forced to the garage for repairs. After returning to the track, McMurray finished the race in 36th-postiion, 38 laps down.
A Quality Passer: In the spring race at Phoenix International Raceway, McMurray ranked first in the statistical category “Percent of Quality Passes”. This category measures the percentage of passing a car running in the top-15 while under a green flag. McMurray leads in the category with a percentage of 94.4%.
Passes under green: Over the last 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway, McMurray ranks fifth in the statistical category of “Green Flag Passes”. This category measures the number of passes that were made under green flag conditions. He has made 556 passes under the green at Phoenix.
The Closer: Over the last 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway, McMurray is currently 10th in the category of “Closers”. This category measures the positions improved in the last 10 percent of laps in each race. McMurray has improved 10 positions in the closing laps of the races at PIR.
McDonalds makes final appearance: McDonalds will make its final appearance of the 2011 season as the primary sponsor of the No.1 Chevrolet driven by McMurray this weekend at Phoenix. The McDonalds located closest to the track is at 13055 W. Rancho Sante Fe Avondale, AZ 85323.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team
Phoenix History: Montoya has made nine starts at Phoenix International Raceway during his Sprint Cup career. In those races, he has tallied one top-five, and two top-10 finishes. He has an average start of 21.3 and average finish of 17.2. He has completed 99.80% of the laps run (2,869 of 2,875) at Phoenix since his first start, leading 104 of them. His best start and finish came in the April event of the 2010 season where he started seventh and finished fifth, and Montoya has zero DNF’s at PIR.
About Texas: Montoya would place the No. 42 Target Chevrolet 15th on the starting grid and found himself battling with the handling early on. Pit stops were frequent in the early laps to help the handling and by lap 135 of 334 crew chief, Jim Pohlman radioed in that Montoya was the fastest car on the track. The team overcame several obstacles during the second half of the race. Montoya pitted under green flag conditions when an untimely caution fell just a few laps later placing the No. 42 a lap down. To add to the situation, an on-track altercation occurred alongside of Montoya and caused significant damage to the right front fender. The team made multiple stops on pit road for repairs and took a wave-around in the closing laps to get the No. 42 Target Chevrolet back on the lead lap. Montoya made a final charge at the end of the race and drove from the 30th position to 18th when the checkered flag waved.
Chevrolet Q&A: On Sunday before the running of the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, Montoya will be participating in a Chevy question and answer session for race fans. This event takes place at the Chevy display at 9:30 AM MST.
Rack up the laps: By completing all of the laps run this past weekend, Montoya maintained his lead in the statistical category of “Number of Laps Completed” in 2011 with 10,030 (of a possible 10,071). That means he has completed 99.6% of the laps run this season in the Sprint Cup Series. The second place driver is Tony Stewart who is 30 laps behind with 10,000 (99.3%).
Green Flag Passer: Montoya is currently ranked 12th in the statistical category of “Green Flag Passes”. This category measures the number of passes a driver had under green conditions. Montoya is currently tied with Greg Biffle for 12th with 486 green flag passes in his career at Phoenix.
BeLive 2011: Formula Smiles, a foundation created by Juan Pablo Montoya and wife Connie Freydell, will be one of the organizations represented in the fifth annual BeLive gala next week in Miami. The BeLive gala will take place on Thursday, November 17 at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. BeLive is joined by four important Colombian non-profit organizations, based in the U.S.: Give to Colombia, Formula Smiles, Genesis Foundation and ArtNexus Foundation, which have joined forces to raise much-needed funds and create awareness within the international community of the dire social needs in Colombia. BeLive will have a spectacular concert, cocktails, sumptuous dinner, live entertainment, fun fashion show and much more.
Homestead Ticket Package: Fans who plan to attend the season finale Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway should take advantage of the “Race Day with Juan” ticket package. The package, which fans may purchase for $142, will include:
· Ticket to Sprint Cup Championship-finale Ford 400 (Turn 1, rows 11-21)
· Private pre-race meet-and-greet with Montoya in the infield Driver’s Meeting Room
· Pre-Race Pit Pass access to front-stretch for photos, autographs, Q&A sessions
· No. 42 Target commemorative lanyard and credential holder
· $42 donation to the Formula Smiles Foundation headed by Montoya and wife Connie
For more information visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com/Montoya
CHASSIS INFO
No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1008. Crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the No. 1 McDonald’s team will be bringing chassis #1008 to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. This chassis was previously used at Richmond in April and Phoenix in February.
No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1109. Pohlman and the No. 42 Target team are bringing chassis # 1109 to Phoenix this weekend. This chassis was previously run at Richmond (April and September) and Phoenix in February.
TEAM ROSTERS
Tony Glover – Team Manager
Steve Hmiel – Director of Competition
No. 1 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Kevin Manion
Boylston, MA
Rear Tire Changer: Chris Taylor
West Plains, MO
Chief Mechanic: Gary Putnam
Vernon, CT
Rear Tire Carrier: Adam Mosher
Fort Mill, SC
Front Tire Changer: Cory DeMarco
St. Louis, MO
Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe
Danbury, CT
Spotter: Lorin Ranier
Prestonsburg, KY
Jack Man: Tracy Duncan
Lincolnton, NC
No. 42 (NSCS)
Hometown
Hometown
Crew Chief: Jim Pohlman
Oak Lawn, IL
Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen
Canton, MI
Chief Mechanic: Heath Silver
Asheville, NC
Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode
Statesville, NC
Front Tire Changer: Pedro Martinez
San Antonio, TX
Gas Man: Ed Watkins
Richmond, VA
Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu
Waterford, MI
Spotter: Tab Boyd
Pensacola, FL
Jack Man: Mark Jacobs
Fort Walton Beach, FL
