Yahoo! Qualification Story – Phoenix

It was the "Revenge of the Group C Drivers" in qualification—but can they stay up front of 375 laps? Read this week's Yahoo! Qualification story (.pdf) for our take.

Martin wins Phoenix Happy Hour

Mark Martin posted the quickest average speed in Phoenix's Happy Hour with a speed of 129.775 during 10 laps.

Our View None of the drivers at the very top of the list posted very many laps, so it is difficult to put too much emphasis on his time. However, Martin won this race last year, so one must assume he knows what he needs to feel.

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Gordon posts fastest Phoenix HH lap

Jeff Gordon posted the single fastest lap in Happy Hour with a speed of 131.444 mph.

Our View His average speed of 126.672 mph during 28 laps was way down the list, however. Gordon has some strong runs at Phoenix, but for the most part this has been one of his less successful tracks. Leave him in the garage this week.

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Johnson is the latest spinner

Add Jimmie Johnson to the list of drivers who spun during Happy Hour. His incident came at the 42-minute mark.
 
Our View Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose preceded him, which is a smorgasbord of experience levels. Qualification could be an interesting session.
 
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Ambrose loops at Phoenix

Moments after the track went back to green following a spin for Kyle Busch, Marcos Ambrose sent his car into a spin cycle. Like Busch and Tony Stewart, he avoided contact with the wall though.
 
Our View as a former road racer, Ambrose should be solid on this short, flat track, but he has yet to completely prove himself in a brief career.
 
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Harmless spin for Ky Busch in Phoenix Happy Hour

Kyle Busch got behind on his steering in turn two at Phoenix International Raceway at the 15 minute mark of Happy Hour and spun harmlessly to the bottom of the track.
 
Our View Busch has been mediocre at Phoenix since winning in his rookie season. His last three years have not been all that bad with a worst result of 17th, but his best run netted a seventh.
 
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Hurting, Hamlin at top of Phoenix speed chart

He may be hurting after his ACL surgery last week, but it certainly didn't mar Denny Hamlin's speed: he topped the fastest lap chart with a 131.210 mph circuit around the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway.
 
Our View Hamlin is a flat track master and at the start of the week, we suggested making him a race day decision. So far, it appears his knee is not slowing him any, but wait until this afternoon for the final determination.
 
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Stewart spins w/o contact at Phoenix

Near the end of the first practice session for the Subway Fresh Fit 600k, Tony Stewart went into the spin cycle. He avoided contact, however, and drove back into the garage.
 
Our View Last year, he was hit-and-miss on this track with a second in the spring and a 25th in the fall.
 
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