If I was Kirk Almquist, heres my Infinion strategy.....

Seriously, we have some knowledgeable members...please share your wisdom.
We also have some joker members who always make us laugh.....pls share your whit!
Our mission is to bring home the Silver and Gold!

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 18, 2009 at 6:10pm

They are not going to win a fuel milege race, period. That is evident on how many more laps cars can go during the past few races. So race your race, if you have a fast car put it out front. If the cautions fall like they usually do, you win the race. If they dont, you at least got TV time.

Or, if you need that caution have PJ punt a car.

Last year RGM tried the fuel milage game, they ended up with bad finishes and frustration...

That would be my strategy. Work with the strong points of your team, dont try to fit other teams plans. The worst case of that was Watkins Glen last year pitting once they could make it on one more stop. They pitted literally only a few laps after they had just pitted. The caution came out, Robby was trapped a lap down for most of the remaining race, and it was painful for everyone involved.

Just my thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by kurt kern on June 18, 2009 at 6:15pm

How laps in a tank running WFO? what is it 2mpg, 1.9mi lap, 17gal tank=18-19 laps/tank? 110 lap race

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on June 18, 2009 at 6:36pm

Per Jayski....Every 36-40 laps, based on fuel mileage.

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on June 18, 2009 at 6:14pm

Bringing home one car in victory lane should be the goal...period! The best chance might be to let each team race their own strategy. What if a caution comes out and Robby stays out, but PJ pits along with others (like RCR did last year) and PJ goes on to win? Or what if PJ stays out and wins? This race ia always about how the cautions fall. You can dominate but get killed by a caution, or win by squeezing out an extra lap or two than the other front runners. The double file restarts will play a part...could get some wadded up race cars going into the first few turns.

Honestly, that's what scares me the most for Robby...someone else getting in to him on restarts. Keep the fenders clean.

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Permalink Reply by Scott C on June 18, 2009 at 6:29pm

Pit when Tony Stewart pits.

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Permalink Reply by JoCo on June 18, 2009 at 6:31pm

But we'll be in front of him all day...

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on June 18, 2009 at 6:35pm

Its a two stop race...as it always is. lap 36-38, lap 72-74 (or whatever lap you can get to the end on).

Only a caution that falls just before your fuel window (on either planned stop, but especially the last one) can screw you, like it did in 2007. That came on lap 67, 43 laps....too many for Robby, Tony and Jeff. If oyu recall everyone came to pit, Robby Tony stayed out in the lead then came to pit like 3 laps later.

If it doesn't come out betweem laps 25-35 and 65-70, we'll be fine...chalk up the win

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Lutz on June 18, 2009 at 7:37pm

oh man - the length of this race is irritating. I REALLY wish they would add a few laps or take a few away. Last year's race was a snooze. A complete parade.

Advance coverage is already talking about early pitting and "working the race backwards". I honestly have no desire to watch race cars conserve fuel.

It's really hard to give advice here....b/c we don't know the testing numbers for RGM. From what limited reading I've done - RGM has really tested for the road courses this year...so, they should have a pretty good idea of fuel mileage numbers.

To be honest, you have to be lucky to win. The yellow's have to fall your way. RG would have a couple of more victories were it not for that.

I think the best strategy for him (given his style) is to try and win the pole and then set the pace. He's incredibly hard to pass and he can set the pace for the field.

While exciting to watch him come from deep in the field, all that "out braking" really does a number on the equipment.

Also - I'm not sure I understand how the double file restart will affect the strategy this year....It might have a HUGE impact if you're the first car a lap down....RG could easily get a lap back from the front. So - maybe pitting early is workable this year given that. Although, I dont' think green flag stops mean you lose a lap here

Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Beth on June 18, 2009 at 8:00pm

Working the race backwards has to be the way to go. You're right, we don't have the testing numbers, but as long as they know how many laps they can go and pit that many from the end, all should be fine as long as, like thejimbeam7 said, a caution doesn't come out right before that. We'll see.

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Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on June 18, 2009 at 10:57pm

Working the race backwards is my favorite misnomer / smoke and mirrors term the Nascar announcers use....

For the most part, without driving 75% conserving fuel, these cars get 36-38 laps. so 37(pit) + 37 (pit lap 74) +37 =111.

Its that simple it s a 2 stop race at almost the maximum amount of laps one can run full tilt. Those who come in at lap 20 then have to come in at 60, then again at 100....SHORT SHORT SHORT

Montoya got lucky with that ill timed caution AND ALSO that there were no further cautions after that. He would have gotten run down like the rangy mungrel that he is...lol (JK).

One cannot control cautions...but if the race were to green the whole way through...37+37+37 two pits wins every time

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on June 18, 2009 at 9:05pm

I suspect, and really hope, that a major point of todays Laguna Seca testing was all about figuring out the fuel mileage. RGM has made a huge investment in this race this year, with all the testing he's done. It's going to pay off.