Getty Images Two big names are hoping to shake off a disappointing Daytona 500 and gain some positive momentum this weekend at Phoenix.
Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick were pegged as contenders to win “The Great American Race” before they both got caught in a nine-car crash on Lap 34 last Sunday at Daytona. Now, they must dig their way out of the hole on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.
Fortunately for Stewart, he’s been in this situation before and it worked out pretty well for him back then.
“We’ve left [Daytona] 43rd (in points) and won a championship in ’02,” said Stewart, who qualified sixth for the Subway Fresh Fit 500k. “So, you just put it behind you and it’s no different than if you get in a wreck on any other week. You can’t change it. So, you’ve got to focus on what you can change and that’s the week ahead.”
As for Harvick, his triumph in the Sprint Cup Series’ most recent visit to Phoenix has him hoping for more good things this time around. But with the introduction of the Generation-6 cars, he and his Richard Childress Racing team know that they’re in for a real test.
“This year we have a new car and a lot of new things to deal with, you to have an open mind on how to approach the weekend,” said Harvick, who is racing in today’s Nationwide Series event at PIR and will go off from seventh on the grid Sunday.
“Obviously, running the NASCAR Nationwide Series race will help by providing a little extra track time, but Phoenix was a good track for us last year. We finished first and second in the two races last season, so we’re going back expecting that we’ll run just as well.”
Stewart has one Sprint Cup win at PIR, but comes off finishes of 22nd and 19th at the one-mile oval last season. Harvick, on the other hand, has collected three top-5 results in his last four Phoenix outings, including the aforementioned victory last fall.
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Ten fans were injured at Charlotte Motor Speedway early in tonight’s Coca-Cola 600 when a nylon rope that served as a guide for an overhead television camera snapped and fell into the grandstands. According to Dustin Long of Motor Racing Network, a track statement reports that three of those fans were taken to the hospital…
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AP
Today’s Indianapolis 500 was the first in over 25 years that saw two three-time winners of the great race – Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti – go after a fourth victory at the Brickyard. But neither of them were able to claim the prize and for another year, the four-win club only has A.J. Foyt,…
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Penske’s pair highlights those who just missed a top five in Indy
May 26, 2013, 7:30 PM EDT
AP
Behind the top five finishers, Team Penske fell short of its first Indianapolis 500 since 2006 even though two of its drivers had a good shot in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. All three Penske pilots led the race, and AJ Allmendinger had the chance to make an off-sequence strategy play dividends as the race evolved. Allmendinger…
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Reuters
Considering the manic amount of lead changing that took place during the 97th Indianapolis 500, it’s possible to assume that Andretti Autosport rookie Carlos Munoz (pictured, right) could have won the biggest race in the world. Munoz had already impressed with his front-row start for today’s race, but then went even further by staying a…
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Wilson and Coyne’s fifth highlights otherwise tough Indy 500 for Honda
May 26, 2013, 6:30 PM EDT
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Fittingly, a dogged effort from one of IndyCar’s grittiest drivers put a positive finish on what had been a frustrating month of May for Honda at Indianapolis 500. Justin Wilson rebounded from a day where he fell as far back as 26th to finish fifth for the plucky Dale Coyne Racing team, in the No.…
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Andretti Autosport comes up empty after dominant month of May
May 26, 2013, 5:50 PM EDT
AP
They were the dominant team of this year’s month of May in Indianapolis. And yet, somehow, it all ended so empty for Andretti Autosport. Colombian rookie Carlos Munoz repeated his heroics of qualifying as he finished second after starting there. Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti finished just behind in third and fourth, but were out…
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As the heartbreaks grew for Tony Kanaan at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so did the number of people that wanted to see him have his day. It was overcast when Kanaan took the checkered flag this afternoon at the Brickyard and won his first Indianapolis 500 in his 12th attempt. But it might as well…
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Tony Kanaan has won the 97th Indianapolis 500, the fourth straight year the race has ended under yellow. It’s undoubtedly going to be an emotional moment for Indy’s crowd favorite, who has taken his first Indianapolis win in 12 attempts. “This is it, man. I made it,” Kanaan told ABC’s Vince Welch in victory lane. ”I got…
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2:35 p.m. ET: It’s almost anyone’s race as the field completes its final round of pit stops. Less than 20 laps remain. Frankly, words don’t do this race justice at the moment. 2:20 p.m. ET: A.J. Allmendinger continues to impress in his Indy 500 debut and made his way back to the lead at Lap 137,…
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Fernando Alonso has admitted that Ferrari simply did not have the pace in Monaco, as he lost ground to Sebastian Vettel at the top of the drivers’ championship. Alonso, who has won in Monaco twice before, started the race in 6th and held position until the race was red flagged. He was then ordered by…
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Felipe Massa has been released from hospital following a large accident in today’s Monaco Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver had made little progress in the race after starting P21, with an accident in FP3 causing him to miss qualifying. However, on lap 29, Massa experienced an exact replica of the accident on Saturday, once again…
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Romain Grosjean has been hit with a 10-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time after causing an accident in today’s Monaco Grand Prix. The Lotus driver was catching Daniel Ricciardo, but an over-zealous move on the exit of the tunnel saw him crash into the rear of the Toro Rosso.…
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Lewis Hamilton has made no excuses after failing to finish on the podium today in Monaco, admitting that he wasn’t good enough in the race. The 2008 world champion started the race in 2nd place alongside teammate Nico Rosberg on the front row, and he managed to hold position until the first safety car period.…
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AP
Sebastian Vettel may not have won for a second time around the streets of Monaco today, but the defending world champion is pleased to have extended his lead at the top of the championship after finishing P2 in the race. “I think overall I’m very happy, pleased with the result,” Vettel said in the post-race…
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Reuters
Monaco Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg has praised the improvement that Mercedes have made since the Spanish Grand Prix, allowing him to claim his first win of the season. The win was particularly special for Rosberg as his father, Keke, won the race thirty years ago, and Nico has spent most of his life in…
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AP
Nico Rosberg has won a thrilling Monaco Grand Prix following a cool and controlled performance, leading every lap to claim a win that sees him match the achievement of his father, Keke, thirty years ago. Rosberg’s lead was threatened by constant stoppages thanks to two safety cars and a red flag, but he managed to…
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The deeper analysis of this year’s Indianapolis 500 has already occurred. Now, MotorSportsTalk’s IndyCar writers offer their final say on each of the 33 drivers ready to take the green flag at noon today. This year’s field is one of the deepest in recent memory, and it’s hard to be too high or low on…
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The Monaco Grand Prix has been red flagged following a heavy crash which caused the TecPro barrier to block the track. On lap 46 of the race, Pastor Maldonado and Max Chilton were battling for position on the exit of the Nouvelle Chicane on the run down to Tabac. Chilton had the inside line, but…
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Following the confirmation that Mercedes took part in a secret tire test after the Spanish Grand Prix, Pirelli has acted quickly to defend itself over the matter, claiming that the German team did not benefit from the test. In-season testing is banned, but Mercedes ran around 1000km at the Circuit de Catalunya two weeks ago,…
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Reuters
There are a record-tying four women (2010, 2011) ready to take the green in the 97th running of this year’s Indianapolis 500. Simona de Silvestro is highest of them on the grid in 24th, with late field addition Katherine Legge making it into the field in 33rd. In-between them, starting in the middle and outside…
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Video: Highlights: Rosberg wins despite crashes aplenty
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Video: Rosberg credits Mercedes, tire management for win
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Video: Rosberg follows father's footsteps, wins in Monaco
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Video: Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel are top 3
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Video: Webber going for third Monaco win
