There are so many misguided statements in this thread. Or statements that ignore the past as evidence as to what could happen.
Remember Gabe's "comeback" in '08 and how he got close to the A and needed it at the trials and everyone talked it up, even the announcers, and Gabe Jennings, one of America's gutsiest racers in his prime, ran tactically. He didn't even TRY to get the A. Regardless of whether he was tired or afraid or simply not fast enough, he let the race go and never made an effort to hit that pace. No one will try in the final this year either.
When it comes down to it, even the guys looking to be "visible" won't do something they consider foolish because in their eyes, 3rd place in 3:43 with no OG this year is better than 9th place in 3:43 after a hard opening 800 in the lead that left them in the dust for the last lap. They don't want the risk. It's stupid, it makes little sense to us peons, but it's tried and true.