Viewer's Guide: Phoenix

Only two races remain in 2007 season as the Chase for the Nextel Cup continues Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are going down to the wire in one of the closest championship battles in NASCAR history. ESPN on ABC's live coverage of the event begins at 3 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The green flag is set for 3:50 p.m. ET.

Q&A with ESPN analyst Andy Petree

Q: What is it about Phoenix International Raceway that makes it such a challenge for teams to set up for?

Petree: Phoenix is a unique racetrack because it has those corners that are so different. You've got [Turns] 1 and 2 that are banked a lot more than 3 and 4. And then you've got that dogleg on the backstretch that when you enter Turn 3, it's a sweeping entry on a flat corner. You go down the frontstretch, which is straight, and you go into a banked turn that's a lot sharper.

You would want a different setup for each end of the racetrack but naturally you can't do that so you have to have a compromise.

Q: How do you come to that compromise?

Petree: It is a driver thing. Sometimes a driver may want to set up to be able to pass cars off Turn 4. If that's where he plans on passing cars, and he wants his car better off Turn 4, then that's the turn you'll concentrate on. If you do that and it seems to hurt your overall lap time, then you go back and strike a compromise between the two. And that's really what you end up with. You're going to set up for what makes the best lap times.

Q: What's something about Phoenix that could cause problems for one of the Chase drivers during the race?

Petree: It's almost a short track, and there will be a little more physical contact on that racetrack. Brakes there are an issue because there's so much differential in the corner speeds and the straightaway speeds. Pit road is another place that can get you in trouble because of the way it bends around.

ESPN2 will broadcast qualifying for the Checker Auto Parts 500 at 5:30 p.m. ET Friday. ESPN2 will air Happy Hour from Phoenix at 3 p.m. ET Saturday.

Busch Series race on ESPN2

On Saturday afternoon, ESPN2 continues its season-long coverage of the Busch Series with live racing from Phoenix. The telecast of the 200-lap race begins at 4 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown. The green flag is set for 4:45 p.m. ET.

SPEED is your place for all Busch pre-race, on-track activity. The network will carry both practice sessions Friday, at noon ET and 3:30 p.m. ET, respectively. SPEED will have qualifying for the Arizona.Travel 200 at noon ET Saturday.

Online fans can watch the Busch Series live race broadcast from Phoenix on NASCAR.COM. To learn more, click here.

Truck Series race on SPEED

SPEED is your complete destination for Craftsman Truck Series action beginning with qualifying for the Casino Arizona 150 at 4:30 p.m. ET Friday. Race coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday with NCTS Setup. The green flag is set to wave at 8:17 p.m. ET.