Q – What is it about Phoenix International Raceway that makes it such a challenge for teams to set up for?

“Phoenix is a unique racetrack because it has those corners that are so different. You’ve got one and two that are banked a lot more than three and four. Three and four is a sweeping, relatively flat turn. And then you’ve got that dogleg on the backstretch that when you enter turn three, it’s a sweeping entry on a flat corner. You go down the frontstretch, which is straight, and you go into a banked turn that’s a lot sharper.

“You would want a different setup for each end of the racetrack but naturally you can’t do that so you have to have a compromise.”

Q – How do you come to that compromise?

“It is a driver thing. Sometimes a driver may want to set up to be able to pass cars off turn four. If that’s where he plans on passing cars, and he wants his car better off turn four, then that’s the turn you’ll concentrate on. If you do that and it seems to hurt your overall lap time, then you go back and strike a compromise between the two. And that’s really what you end up with. You’re going to set up for what makes the best lap times.”

Q – What’s something about Phoenix that could cause problems for one of the Chase drivers during the race?

“It’s almost a short track, and there will be a little more physical contact on that racetrack. Brakes there are an issue because there’s so much differential in the corner speeds and the straightaway speeds. Pit road is another place that can get you in trouble because of the way it bends around.”

[ESPN]