Fuel Mileage at MIS: Shocking
In typical Michigan fashion, conservation was key. The Lifelock 400 came down to fuel mileage.
Brian Vickers’ No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, one of the race’s dominant cars before finishing fourth, gave up the lead on lap 188 to pit for a splash of gas. Once the stops cycled through, Brian found himself in the top five.
A caution flag waved with three laps to go when the No. 77 spun, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. NASCAR lined up the No. 83 in fourth, behind the No. 8 of Mark Martin, in front of the No. 17 of Matt Kenseth and much to Brian’s dismay. He never could mount a charge on the restart with the slower No. 8 up ahead.
“We kind of got it taken away from us,” Brian said. “We passed the 8 car about two laps before the caution came out and for some reason NASCAR wanted to put them back in front of us. That pretty much cost us the race right there in my mind.”
So Brian settled for another top-five finish — the team’s second in a row after a runner-up showing June 8 at Pocono. From his 18th starting position, Brian charged into the lead in a mere 33 laps and led four times for 44. He moved up one spot in the standings to 16th and gained 15 points in the race to the Chase. He’s 97 points out of 12th.
AJ Allmendinger felt the effects of fuel mileage, too.
He started 39th and motored into the top 15 by lap 120, even leading a circuit not long after. “There you go,” spotter Tim Fedewa yelled as AJ picked off car after car.
While running second with four laps to go, the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota peeled onto pit road for fuel and four tires. The sequence, however, didn’t play into AJ’s favor, and he returned to the track in 22nd. He could do no better than 19th at the checkered flag.
“We started off and the thing was great. We just kept picking them off one by one,” AJ said. “The car was great. Pit strategy sucks. We need to learn how to do pit strategy.”
Still, AJ climbed three spots to 40th in the driver standings after his third top-20 finish in the past four races. The No. 84 is gaining in the top 35, too. It picked up 30 points while remaining 37th in the car owner standings.
Up Next: Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sunday, June 22, Infineon Raceway
posted by Bull Rider at 7:28 AM
23 Comments:
Go get'em this week BV. Go put that Toy in Victory Lane because we're over due for that win. Another probably taken away from us by NASCAR's doing.
I would like to know if the 83 team received an explanation from Nascar abt being put behind the 8? I saw where someone on another blog said they did get an explanation(didn't say what it was)and were satisfied with it. However everything I have read today explains abt Jr and the passing of the pace car deal, the concession by nascar that the official was too slow in Kenseth's pit but I have seen no explanation abt the 83/8 track position confusion. If there was an explanation could you post it here for us to see. Thanks--
I agree with u anonymous. An explanation would be good. What blog do u read that on.
NASCAR had to take care of their boy. It explains why they'd want to have some insulation between Junior and someone who was half a second a lap faster.
Is Vickers much of a road course racer? Can we expect much this weekend?
Back to lovinbv83---
I think it was on the Speed board, if I remember correctly. It was very late last night.
Suzie,
BV's avg. finish according to NASCAR.com is 23.3 hopefully he can pull out a top 15 and we go onto New Hampshire and get a win!
Brian's coming into his own on road courses. He has a top 10 at Watkins Glen and about the same average finish as Sonoma, but I'm sure he can get a top 15-top 10 this weekend. With the momentum they have going who, knows they could own the place! :)
Good Luck BV and 83 crew!
WE BELIEVE!!!
As long as we don't have any mechanical trouble, the pit strategy goes our way-ish, and BV stays on track at least some of the time, we could get a nice finish this weekend.
I just want to know if there is any video evidence that BV was ahead of the 8 car because that would be the only way to see if BV was right (which I believe he is) or if NASCAR was. Both Red Bulls should be good at Sonoma!!!
AJ is a demon road racer...but I don't think he has even qualified for a Cup road course race.
Setting up a Cup car for the road course is a whole different ball game...and I am concerned that Red Bull, while they may have made huge strides elsewhere...may not be up to par on the road course set up. Lets hope they have done some road course testing this year...and are on game.
If they can give AJ a good car...and the brakes last (AJ brakes to the apex like all good kart racers...and as such can be hard on brakes!) then WATCH OUT!
I think AJ's style could make him a demon racer on the road course (much like Robby Gordon) He knows how to pitch and set a car into a corner. (I saw it first hand back in the day trying to hold onto his bumper in karts...it was amazing to watch up close)
Drivers like that can tend to be able to make a car turn in when it does not want to. It gives them a very versatile style. A driver with slow hands who is very smooth, on the other hand, may be stuck when the front of the car goes off...he can not pitch it in.
GO AJ.
Red Bull Racing tested at a road course a few months ago. I forget which one, and I forget who exactly did the test.
According to BV, they're getting so good because they're showing up "in the ballpark" and being able to fine tune the car. With any luck, we should be okay.
Can you guys at the blog get the stuff from BVs online store onto the NASCAR.com Superstore.
can someone tell us what nascar said to brian and matt kenseth about their complaints...I looked on the speed message board and couldnt find it...thank you
Brian Vickers won the NASCAR West Series race at Infineon in 2006. He started from the pole. His hardest competition that day was Boris Said and BV beat him. In 2005, BV won the Busch series pole at Watkins Glen driving the #5 Lowe's car. He finished 3rd.
I would say that BV is a pretty decent road racer.
AJ might be way better though. I'm looking forward to the race.
Brian does have a trophy at Infineon from a couple of years back driving Ricky's number for HMS in an ARCA West event. (I believe that is the right series)
I have a lot of confidence in the teams ability this weekend, due to the fact that they are guaranteed a starting position. The more runs they can make in race trim, the better.
Brian is good at road course events, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him contend for the win again.
I'm sort of worried about AJ making the race this weekend. It'll be harder than beating the Petty and Wood Brothers boys. There'll be lots of ringers there trying to get in.
I'm very happy for Vickers. The runs he's been having lately are what he needs to get pumped up. And AJ is doing awesome. I hope he can get some momentum this weekend and carry it into the top 35. I have one question though. Why did AJ make a four tire stop with 4 to go? Why not a splash of fuel? He would've definitely gotten a better finish, whether the race ended under caution or not.
BV's good at Sonoma because i remember in 2006 he started 42nd and finished 14th. it would be good if both teams got top 20. :)
well.. that was obviously a bad call but that happens sometimes. Don't worry about it, the #84 team will have a lot more great runs like that for sure. Red Bull Racing is showing improvements and consistency week by week. The #84 team will be in the the top 35 soon. And when they get in, they will only keep on climbing in the points rank.
Just remember, guys. In the long run it is better for us to be running very well but finishing poorly by luck than to be running like crap and lucking into a few good finishes.
Don't worry. The performance is there. We'll be fine.
they tested at VIR
More to come on road course testing in a day or two.
according to jayski, NASCAR admitted they made a mistake and apologized!?!?!? i think they should do it publicly not just in private!
Absolutely!!!
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