So what's the verdict on the IndyCar Phoenix race?

Hey y'all.

As many of you may know, there was an IndyCar race on Saturday night at Phoenix.

And there are definitely some mixed feelings about how the race went.

Some thought it was great.

Some thought only the last ten laps were great.

People have some really strong opinions.

And people are mad at Robin Miller for saying he thought the race was a snoozer (my dad obviously thought so, he fell asleep).

So, what do I think?

Well, I'm kinda in-between.

Overall, I really only have a strong memory of the last restart to the end of the race, as do most of us.

Which is saying something because I remember watching the previous two Phoenix races, but I couldn't tell you any details about them. Thats how NOT memorable they were to me. The only thing I remember about last year was that Simon Pagenuad won and it was his first win on a oval, it was a big deal. How he came about that win, I couldn't tell you.

But back to this year, the start was fine. No one went crazy and crashed out using the high line. It was fine.

The first 1/4 of the race was good. We saw some passing.

All the drama that happened during the first pit stop with the leaders: Bourdais, Rossi, and Pagenuad was intregiging. It mixed things up.

But after that there really wasn't much excitement.

Everyone pretty much held their own as they saved fuel and managed their tires.

It was a parade.

I agree with everyone who has already stated that fact.

I mean my heart was broken when Will Power crashed. Not only was he one of my fantasy picks, but I think he had one of the best cars in the race.

The last 50 laps the race were stressful for me as a Josef Newgarden fan.

I knew it and he said it, he didn't have the race winning car on Saturday night. He struggled to find balance all night and was struggling to pass cars.

Now let me remind you, I am a diehard Newgarden fan. But I didn't not think at half way through that he would win the race.

Even when he was in second behind Power I would have put my money on Power.

So when he was leading my only faith that Newgarden would be able to pull of a win was in the fact that there were lapped cars in the mix with the top 5 cars. But I was still worried.

I just sat there watching the laps tick down (which is not fun FYI).

So when Jones crashed I was upset and I thought there goes Newgarden chance for the win.

And then when he pitted I literally yelled out "Nooooooo."

In my mind he was giving up track position and I didn't think many cars would pit and I knew Newgarden had been struggling to pass cars so I thought he's be lucky to come away with a podium.

And then only 3 cars on the lead lap stayed out.

Waiting to see which choice, new tires or old tires would be worth it was exciting.

And when Josef pulled off that pass on Hinch and Rossi I was freaking.

And when he was able to pass Wickens I was like holy cows what is happening.

And then he put a gap on the field and won the dang thing.

So long story short, the last ten laps were great, the rest of the race not so much.

Lets be real, strategy saved that race.

Without strategy coming into play all throughout the race it would have not been a memorable race.

And this is coming from someone who is not a fan of races coming down to race strategy.

But strategy calls were one of the few things that made the race interesting.

When to pit (early vs late) and the last tire call were the only things that added interest to the race besides the last ten laps. Oh, and Leist's tire bouncing down pit lane.

Case and point: the IndyCar 5 minute recap of the race is only two minutes.