NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...

04/10/2010

SPEED CLAWS HIS WAY BACK TO FINISH WELL AT PHOENIX

+ NOT SO FUN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN

Scott Speed and the No. 82 team’s charge from a lap down to a decent finish helped Red Bull Racing Team avert total disaster in the desert. 82 .

TALE OF TWO BRAKE PEDALS:

On lap 38, Speed radioed that “my brakes are gone.” About an hour later, Speed noted the brakes returned. But at that point, he was running a lap down. Speed, however, persevered and got the free pass on lap 189. He remained on the lead lap until he finished 21st — easily his best finish at Phoenix.

GLAD YOU’RE BACK:

“Heck of a nice feeling going into the corner and not think we’re going to die.” — Speed on brakes/slowing down

VITAL SIGNS:

Speed slipped one position in points to 22nd. He’s 29 points out of the top 20.

STAT THAT MATTERS:

Speed qualified second Friday. That’s the fourth time he’s qualified on the front row in 47 Sprint Cup starts. His first pole doesn’t seem to be far off.