Frye sure 2018 aero will fix Phoenix show

IndyCar competition boss Jay Frye understands the frustrations about last Saturday night's race at Phoenix but wants fans to know next year will be much racier.

"The 2018 car's downforce will be generated by the underwing, which means less turbulence for the trailing car, and that should increase the opportunities for overtaking," said IndyCar's president of competition and operations. "With that, as well as the multitude of scenarios and components we tested last fall at Phoenix and data we've recently gathered through wind tunnel testing, we believe we're on the right path."

Back-to-back parades at the legendary one-mile oval had spectators and teams howling after Simon Pagenaud went unchallenged the final 100 laps. It was unseasonably cool as well and Firestone's tires never came close to degrading enough to make things a little more interesting.

Several drivers said a quick fix of filling in the holes in the undertrays could have saved last weekend's show but Frye said that wasn't an option for a couple of reasons.

"The test we had last October at PIR was all for the 2018 car because we'd already frozen the aero kits for 2017. And we found some good things that will be help but it's not just filling in a hole in the undertray. There were six major elements of the car that we changed and I think it's going to make the racing much better.

"Honda was the only team that tested last October because the Chevrolet team we had lined up ended up going to Honda," said Frye, obviously referring to Chip Ganassi. "We asked another Chevy team but they couldn't make it, so all the information we gathered was from a Honda car's point of view. If a Chevy would have been at the test maybe we could have had an opportunity to do something before last weekend. But if we make a change at PIR then we've got change at other tracks too and we're trying to abide by our rulebook."

Returning to Phoenix, Watkins Glen and Elkhart Lake last season was widely applauded by fans and IndyCar teams but there is concern that 2018 could be it at PIR if the racing isn't better.

"IndyCar has made a significant and long-term commitment to Phoenix Raceway and its fans, and we want to present the best show possible," said Frye. "We conducted a 2018 aero kit development test last fall and then held a second full-field open test this past February, and we expect to return with spring training, as we call that test, in 2018."

Frye is also confident in the relationship with track officials.

"Bryan (Sperber, the track president) is in it for the long haul and so are we," he said. "We have a great partnership and we all look forward to a putting on a great race in 2018 and beyond."