NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car will now run 1000' not 1/4

[4Jenna]

WOW :jaw-dropping:

http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30355.htm (http://www.nhra.com/content/news/30355.htm)

[ttocs]

how is shortening the track going to help safety?

[BurnTire]

Gives them more shut down area in the short term.

[chewbaccajones]

That's crazy. That would be like making Honda the sole engine provider of the IRL. Oh wait...

It says it's 'interim' so hopefully 1320 will eventually return.

[ttocs]

gives them less time to get to max speed. The cars are exactly the same but now they will put a lower gearing in them to allow them to max out at 1000', rather then the 1320.

I would think about automating it so that as soon as they pass the line the chute automatically pops.

[Wharf Rat]

That kinda sucks but I understand it and it's better than losing another racer. I'm sure they will have a better, safer long term solution eventually.

I think there is a lot that can be done in the shut down area- longer traps, nets, ect. Oh, that and not have a concrete wall at the end. :rolleyes:

[AZSonicSnake]

wow.... not sure about that. i understand the reasoning, but thats just odd...

[Ruckus46gt]

as i said on another site how is 320ft going to help? at those speeds thats a tenth of a sec.

Wharf Rat what you dont realize is etowns shut down is actually long after the first turn off to the left there is a jr dragster 1/8 mile track with shut down before the sand pit even starts then there is a tires and then a concrete wall. That being said to be honest those cars as low as they are hitting sand at 300mph isnt save either car will either skip or dig in and flip. As stated above auto shutes at the line are the only thing they can really do, but there will still be tragedys because the shoot and elec to deploy it would have blown up before it would have been able to activate.

[Ethan@S3M]

Why not make the tracks extend the run out area buy 300-400 ft.

[Jacostang]

^^^ Exactly!!!

[Sqrlnts]

I agree, 320ft isn't gonna make any difference on the big end. Automation and redundant backups would seem to be very helpful if the driver was unconsious......

[mntony]

A lot of tracks just don't have the real estate to add another 300 foot of shutdown. I'd hate to see tracks go out of business because of that. I'd rather see them shorten it to the 1000 ft. It's been talked about for years and is a better alternative to the problem IMHO.

[Ruckus46gt]

it will go back to a 1/4 probely once there safety eval is done. 320 gt at 300 mph isnt going to change anything.