Friday, May 20, 2016

The Frontstretch Newsletter: All-Star Weekend Struggles to Get Underway

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 20, 2016
Volume X, Edition LXXVII

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What to Watch: Friday

- Today is race day for the Camping World Truck Series.  200 miles of action is on tap tonight.  Before that, we have qualifying (weather permitting, of course) for both the Camping World Truck and Sprint Cup series.  We'll have plenty of updates for you at Frontstretch while we wait for the weather to clear up.


FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND THROUGH OUR COLLEAGUES:
 
CHARLOTTE:
Amy Henderson (@Writer_Amy)
 
INDIANAPOLIS:
Aaron Bearden (@AaronBearden93)
John Potts (currently not active on Twitter)
 
and our own Twitter page, @Frontstretch as well for updates!
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This weekend's TV Schedule can be found here.

Top News
by The Frontstretch Staff
 
William Byron Tops Truck Series Practice

The Camping World Truck Series was supposed to have three practice sessions on Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Persistent rains cut that to one session starting at 6:45 p.m.  In the one session, William Byron was quickest.  Read more
 
Dusenberry Martin Racing Announces NASCAR Heat Evolution
 
On Friday, video game developers Dusenberry Martin Racing announced the newest NASCAR console game, NASCAR Heat Evolution, which will be released in September.  The game, which recalls the 2000 game NASCAR Heat, will be NASCAR's official video game release.  Read more

Daytona International Speedway Named SBJ's Sports Facility of the Year

On Thursday, the Sports Business Journal announced that Daytona International Speedway, thanks to the completion of the Daytona Rising project, has been named Sports Facility of the Year.  The track has diversified its events, hosting not just races, but also a major country music concert as well.  Read more



 
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Frontstretch Folio: Sprint Showdown/Sprint All-Star Race
by Phil Allaway

This weekend, the Sprint Cup Series has no points on the line.  Just big bucks.  Coverage of the Sprint Showdown can be seen on FOX Sports 1 starting at 7 p.m. ET Friday with while the green flag shortly afterwards.  Coverage of the Sprint All-Star Race can be seen on FOX Sports 1 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday night, with the race starting around 9:20 p.m.  Both events can be heard on PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Records and facts

In last year's Sprint All-Star Race, there really wasn't much in the way of action.  The only cautions occurred at the end of segments.  However, Denny Hamlin's crew were able to put him out in front before the final ten lap segment.  From there, he was able to scoot away and claim the victory.  Kevin Harvick was second, followed by Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth.

Jimmie Johnson is the all-time winningest driver in the All-Star Race with four triumphs, the most recent of which coming in 2013.  He is also the only active driver to have won more than once. Hendrick Motorsports has eight as an organization.  They include Johnson's four, Jeff Gordon's three and one for Terry Labonte.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 1.5-mile quad-oval, 50 laps (75 miles) for Sprint Showdown, 113 laps (169.5 miles) for the Sprint All-Star Race
Banking: 24 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,952.8 ft., banked 5 degrees

Backstretch: 1,360 ft., banked 5 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 89,000
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 55 mph
Opened: 1960

Website: http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy

Pre-Race Schedule:

Sprint Showdown Practice/Qualifying: Friday, May 20, 1:30 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

Sprint All-Star Race Practice: Friday, May 20, 3 p.m. - 4:55 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

All-Star Race Qualifying: Saturday, May 21, 7:10 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

Say What?!

"I think the All-Star race outcome is really going to depend on tire falloff. The rules are pretty interesting and for the teams that are required to pit based on where they finish, hopefully there's a ton of tire falloff and you can make up those positions lost in a very short final segment. I'd say that the conversation right now among the most drivers is there's a race for ninth, 10th, 11th, whatever that transfer spot is and wherever that ends up being, that everybody is joking that's the spot to be right now (laughs). But, hopefully we get to the track and we see that the tire wear is far different and people don't have to play that game. It's an exciting race in general – usually a spark or two fly - it's in my sponsor Lowes' back yard, and there is a million dollars on the line. How can it not be exciting?" - Jimmie Johnson

"Heck, you don't have to put $1 million up to know what most of us would do to try and win a race. But, when there are no points on the line and $1 million at stake, you definitely throw caution to the wind and go for it. A lot of times you see that at the Sprint All-Star Race and it ends up with a lot of bent-up sheet metal due to moves that aren't necessarily thought out very well – and we've all made them. It's a fun race and it's fun just for that reason. If you make a mistake, the repercussions aren't really that great in terms of points or anything like that. It's really about trying to win and that carrot that they dangle out in front of you is a trophy and a million bucks – so go for it." - Kevin Harvick

"We're going to learn everything we can during the Showdown for the 600, but we also want to race our way into the All-Star race. We're going to do everything we can, take some chances. It's going to be a different car from our 600 car, and, more times than not, two different cars don't line up the exact same. So, anything that we do learn from a set-up standpoint could differ from car to car. So, we're just going to go out there and do everything we can to get into the big race." - Chris Buescher

"We raced our way into the All-Star race in 2013 so hopefully we can do that again this year. We've been strong on the intermediate tracks so far this season so I feel confident we should be able to win one of the three rounds. We are all on an even playing field with the rule changes so hopefully we can get our Ford in the All-Star race." - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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The Critic's Annex: Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis
by Phil Allaway

Welcome back.  It's time to return to open-wheeled action.  Last weekend, the Verizon IndyCar Series returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway's infield road course for the third Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.  That also meant the return of ESPN.

Pre-race coverage was relatively brief.  Viewers got three pre-race interviews, plus a breakdown of the amazing start that Simon Pagenaud has had to the 2016 season.  In all honesty, the coverage really didn't do all that much to actually preview the race.  For instance, we were well into the race before

The weather was another serious concern as temperatures were hovering around 50 degrees.  Honestly, if this were the Indianapolis 500, it would have been borderline for running at all.  We know what happens when you run an Indianapolis 500 at this temperature.  It's a wreckfest.  That's much less of an issue on the road course, but getting tires up to temperature is more of an issue.

ESPN did have great coverage of Will Power's incident shortly after the first caution.  Power basically got snookered into a mistake by Alexander Rossi.  Given the nature of the race, Power was completely unable to make up for his unforced error and finished 19th.

Eddie Cheever spent a bunch of years racing in Europe.  He started 132 Grands Prix back when the series was primarily a European series.  Based on that experience, I don't understand why he wouldn't know why drivers consider the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course to be a European-style track.  It's like he didn't do his proper preparation for the weekend.  The track (with two exceptions) was built for Formula One, Eddie.  Yes, tracks were different when he raced there in the 1980's, but that doesn't matter.  Preparation is key to everything in life and Cheever showed here that he really wasn't doing his best to prepare.

I still find the new scroll graphic that debuted in St. Petersburg to simply be too small for my taste.  While yes, it's good to be able to see more of the action, I also want to be able to see the rundowns.  Sure, it's at least partially a result of me using a 32" TV for critiquing purposes, but not everyone has a 57" biggie in their living room.  I shouldn't have to sit close enough to the set that I can cheat in Duck Hunt in order to make everything out.
 
During the race, there was a fair amount of action for position.  ESPN brought viewers some of these battles, but mostly towards the front of the field.  The network did not do a very good job of covering movement through the field, especially before the second caution.  As a result, you have that situation where people just show up at the front out of nowhere
 
There was a lot more discussion of blend line issues Saturday than we had at Barber Park with NBCSN.  Had no idea that INDYCAR had instituted a beacon system, similar to what V8 Supercars does at street courses to police "kerb hopping."  Having said that, it was time.  Good show, INDYCAR.  Here in Indianapolis, a number of drivers got busted for going over the line.  At Barber Park, NBCSN talked about the controversy in Long Beach, but didn't go into any detail about it.  It's good to know what INDYCAR is doing about an ongoing problem.  However, I'm unsure if they can install these beacons in the road at upcoming street courses (Belle Isle, Toronto).
 
Post-race coverage was relatively brief.  Viewers got interviews with the top 3 finishers (Simon Pagenaud, Helio Castroneves and James Hinchcliffe), and some analysis that was centered more upon the upcoming practice sessions for the Indianapolis 500 than the race that had just finished.  That was about it.  I'd argue that this is just one of the many reasons why a number of fans were opposed to the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis even being created.  It's effectively a throwaway race, one that pales in comparison to the Indianapolis 500, but one that brings in a little extra money.  Even though it is a points race for the Verizon IndyCar Series, it doesn't matter.
 
I'm still not a fan of the Cheever and Scott Goodyear analyst pairing in the booth.  Cheever continues to be a black hole when it comes to discussion.  Basically, he's right and you're wrong.  He's the racing analyst equivalent of Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda, only nowhere near as funny as Pam Ferris can be.  Goodyear gets the job done, but I find him boring.

These two chaps flank Allen Bestwick, who is the least experience in terms of INDYCAR, but the most professional of the three.  He spent much of last year learning the ropes, but now, I think he's doing well.  Unfortunately, his boothmates bring the broadcast down.  Having an extremely limited focus in an 82-lap race doesn't help things either. 
 
I just don't enjoy ESPN INDYCAR broadcasts very much, and that has been the case for years.  I don't know what they're cooking up for the 500 other than a nice piece on the new domed skids that Jon Beekhuis is doing, but let's hope that it's good.  They've had some serious duds in recent years (S&M milk feature, anyone?).
 
I hope you liked this look at Saturday's broadcast of the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.  We've got racing in Charlotte and at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this week, in addition to Indianapolis 500 qualifying.  It should be enjoyable, so long as it doesn't rain.
 
 
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.

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TODAY ON FRONTSTRETCH:
by the Frontstretch Staff
 
by Zach Catanzareti
 
by Mike Neff
 
by Amy Henderson
 
 
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: Last year's month of May at Indianapolis was plagued by a number of blowover crashes.  What rule change did INDYCAR make during the month in an attempt to prevent more incidents from happening?

Check back tomorrow for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!

Thursday's Answer:

Q: As noted in yesterday's Newsletter, Arie Luyendyk was DQ'd from his qualifying run on pole day at Indianapolis in 1996 for being underweight.  Forced to re-qualify on Sunday, what did Luyendyk do?

A: In more favorable conditions for speed, Luyendyk went out and proved that seven pounds of weight did not really determine who was fastest.  He went out and blistered the 2.5 mile oval at record pace.  Luyendyk set the official one and four-lap records that still stand to this day as the official records.  The first lap was good enough for the fastest lap in the history of qualifying.  Lap No. 2 was faster, and so was No. 3.  The fourth and final lap was a lap of 237.498 mph, fastest of all.  The four-lap average was 236.986 mph, fastest of all-time by a couple of miles per hour.

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COMING MONDAY
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll have recaps of the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck series events from Charlotte Motor Speedway.  There will also be an update on the points and any other news that breaks.

On Frontstretch.com:
We'll have a series of post-race commentaries analyzing this weekend's action in Dover.

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