Questions remain over pitstop strategy in IndyCar’s Phoenix race

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing-Honda’s Graham Rahal stated: “The stint lengths here are considerably longer than last year because the car is so much more efficient, the fuel mileage is so much better that it cuts out a complete pit stop from what we've seen so far.

"By that, you're going a long way on tires, and the tires really aren't any different than last year, not much.

“[So] the last – jeez, it might be 20, but it's probably more like 30, 35 or 40 – laps is going to be a handful…”

However, Michael Cannon, who engineers Dale Coyne Racing’s #19 car – this weekend driven by IndyCar debutant Pietro Fittipaldi – said: “Really it all depends on when the yellows fall.

"We have seven sets of tires and some years we’re worried that won’t be enough; this year it could be more than enough. Because theoretically they’ve just got to make them last.”

Asked if there was a chance of some teams and drivers opting for that “extra pitstop” for fresh rubber in a shootout toward the finish, Cannon said: “The problem is, this is a track where short pitting [coming in early] isn’t a good idea. Because even on fresh tires, you can have a hell of a job getting around someone with 50 laps on their tires.”

Cannon confirmed that Fittipaldi, who will start a highly impressive 10th for his IndyCar debut, will start with virtually with same setup as teammate and polesitter Sebastien Bourdais, but with a little more left-front wing to help deal with the dirty air from the cars ahead.