AGR is a mess

[Bluewolf]

This team is a mess -- I can't believe AGR is so far behind on one mile ovals -- especially after dominating last year. You'd figure by this time they would have made some progress against the field but they're losing ground against the field --- unbelievable -- unless they can win this week at kansas with a fuel strat {like Herta did on this track 2 years ago} these guys may not even have one car in the top five at the end of the race.

[Hazard]

This how we announce the grid Yep, Marco fastest AGR in 11th - it's not a pretty performance...but sometimes the top guys have to fall (AGR, Rahal) and allow the old reptiles back to the top of the foodpile

[Snips1]

Both AGR and RLR have lost the edge this year and has so far not been able to make for it......

It will be interesting to see where these two tams will be next year...

[ensign14]

Funny how AGR has gone backwards this season whilst Ganassi Racing has come forward. It's as if AGR lost a key member of staff to Chip or something.

[Alwaysfirst]

They have. He's called Dan Wheldon. However it isn't this that has caused the downfall of AGR. It's the end of favouritism by Honda. No special engines = no great performances.

[mountainstar]

And the end of the subsidies, chassis development and free engines.

[Bluewolf]

I wonder if they've lost some good technical people from last year to other teams too?

[marcus]

its a shame really isnt it.

Kanaan is trying hard and coming up with half decent efforts but the rest of the team are falling behind.

I guess Marco is doing well also but Herta and dario almost seem non existent.

I think what you guys have said is probably the case but in the end its a shame because it would be great if they and also the Rahal team were right at the front with penske and Ganassi

[rustyfan]

The problem for AGR is that they didn't feel the pressure to try new things last year, while Ganassi and especially Penske worked their butts off in order to catch up. So now when they are equal on engines, all the other little things that Ganassi and Penske have worked so hard on are paying off in their favor.

[karimbo]

Ganassi were bad last year because they were not using Dallaras. That is why Briscoe didn't win the championship !!!!

[Knowlesy]

Kanaan has provided a bit of respite at Milwaukee today.

[Bluewolf]

Yes -- perhaps they're making progress -- I was amazed also to see Ganassi so off the pace -- this is getting very interesting.

[deejay]

Yeah Ganassi being so far off the pace as well makes me think that the particular track characteristics of Milwaukee just suited AGR and they haven't really made that much progress.

They'd have to be disappointed as well at the way their cars (apart from Tony) fell off at the end.

The way Danica cleaned the other 3 up at the end there you have to start wondering if their (purported) interest in her is for driver performace, not just marketing value.

[deejay]

Originally Posted by karimbo

Ganassi were bad last year because they were not using Dallaras. That is why Briscoe didn't win the championship !!!!

Well actually, while everyones talking this theory of Ganassi being motivated to "improve their cars" all last year because of the Toyota engines, that's kind of irrelevant because like you say, they are using completely different cars this year.

[Mystery]

I was reading something at indycar.com today making reference to the fact that AGR was given a bonus test day at Milwaukee due to the fact that they're running full time in both the IPS and the IRL. Dario did that test day with Jonathan Klein so they should have started the Milwaukee event with a half decent set up already. Quite a valuable advantage it would seem.