Toyotas Show Improved Performance at Phoenix Raceway, Providing Hope for Hamlin
Throughout much of the previous season, Toyotas faced challenges on shorter tracks, with Hamlin securing the manufacturer’s sole victory on an asphalt track measuring a mile or less (fall Bristol).
The team, especially Hamlin, has encountered difficulties in finding speed at Phoenix Raceway, which is crucial considering it hosts the annual series championship race.
That’s why Hamlin’s and Toyota’s performance on Friday was so encouraging.
Hamlin ended up as the second-fastest in average speed, with Tyler Reddick and John Hunter Nemechek also placing in the top five. Among drivers who completed at least 10 consecutive laps, three Toyota drivers led the pack – Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell, and Nemechek.
When asked about his satisfaction with his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team’s performance on Friday, Hamlin stated, “Certainly. I think we’re not the usual 3/10ths (of a second) off in practice here, which has been typical for us.
“We’ve made significant changes to my car in the past. So, over the past couple of years, we’ve been experimenting with different approaches to improve at this track. Clearly, it has been the weakest oval for the No. 11 car by far.
“So, we’re striving to get better, and I believe we’re moving in the right direction.”
Hamlin emphasized that observing his fellow Toyota drivers displaying speed illustrates progress more than solely evaluating the setup changes made to his car.
“To see other Toyotas up towards the front is encouraging. It’s not about how the car feels aerodynamically because we’re not at that level to discern that,” he explained.
“It’s just about whether it reflects on the speed chart. I can’t speak for the other drivers, but I know we have to deviate from our past approaches, and we’re certainly doing that now.”
Friday’s practice session also marked the first track time for most teams with this year’s new aero rules for all road courses and most oval tracks measuring 1.058 miles or less.
Cup cars now feature a simplified diffuser, along with the 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers, removal of engine panel strakes, a 3-inch spoiler, and simplified diffuser strakes.
While there were limited instances of cars running in heavy traffic during the 50-minute practice – nothing resembling race conditions – Hamlin noted a slight difference with the new package.
“I’d say there was a slight improvement in traffic, albeit minimal from what I could discern, nothing groundbreaking,” he commented.
“If the cars are evenly matched, it’s naturally difficult to overtake, but it seems like there’s a slight improvement with the package.”
When asked how drivers or fans could assess the effects of Sunday’s race, Hamlin remarked, “Well, I can confidently say it won’t be worse than what we had. What we had was really problematic.
“This is a 10-percent improvement. Comparing it to the old days where aerodynamics were negligible (0) and what we had was significant (100), this would be like a 90. So, it’s a very slight change.
“But anything that enables us to race closer to each other, to navigate each other’s slipstream without the air blockage we’ve seen in recent weeks, I think that would be a positive development.”
