In what is being termed an "interim move," the NHRA has announced that, effective immediately, Top Fuel and Funny Cars will now compete only to the 1000' foot mark rather than the standard quarter-mile (1320 feet).
Full article here:
NHRA link
Full Version: NHRA reacts to Kalitta tragedy.
Well this will throw a monkey wrench into every record book.
There has to be a better fix to this, then this one. I mean think about it.
You cannot compare 1000 foot track speeds to 1320 foot track (true 1/4 mile).
This will change everything.
There has to be a better fix to this, then this one. I mean think about it.
You cannot compare 1000 foot track speeds to 1320 foot track (true 1/4 mile).
This will change everything.
QUOTE (BigEd @ Jul 3 2008, 02:30 PM) 
Well this will throw a monkey wrench into every record book.
There has to be a better fix to this, then this one. I mean think about it.
You cannot compare 1000 foot track speeds to 1320 foot track (true 1/4 mile).
This will change everything.
There has to be a better fix to this, then this one. I mean think about it.
You cannot compare 1000 foot track speeds to 1320 foot track (true 1/4 mile).
This will change everything.
It'll keep them alive until they research a permanent solution.
When you're in the grandstands near the starting line, you won't know the difference. They will still shake your bones just as good.
Mike
This involves much more than just running a shorter race. The teams will now run different gear ratios, clutch setups, and chassis setups. They will launch harder which means maybe different tire compunds will be needed. They will tweak the stuff on their engines differently since the shorter races means they can run them a bit harder. There will be more failures at or near the starting line.
Their 1000 foot times and speeds will be better than before. The extra 320 feet of stopping distance might still not be enough when something strange occurs.
By the time they cross the 1000 foot finish line, there is less than a second before they reach the original 1320 foot mark. So, you can't look at this as "they have an extra 320 feet to react", rather they have an extra second to react. And actually, more like about 8 tenths of a second since they will be traveling at about 400 feet per second.
A 1000 foot race still wouldn't have saved Kalitta.
-Maurice
Their 1000 foot times and speeds will be better than before. The extra 320 feet of stopping distance might still not be enough when something strange occurs.
By the time they cross the 1000 foot finish line, there is less than a second before they reach the original 1320 foot mark. So, you can't look at this as "they have an extra 320 feet to react", rather they have an extra second to react. And actually, more like about 8 tenths of a second since they will be traveling at about 400 feet per second.
A 1000 foot race still wouldn't have saved Kalitta.
-Maurice
The Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Engine failure at 300 mph triggered a crash that killed top Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta in June.
The New Jersey State Police said investigators determined that "catastrophic mechanical failure" caused a fuel-fired explosion in Kalitta's Toyota Solaria during a qualifying race at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
State police said the rear portion of the car's body separated, deploying the damaged parachute system. The car crashed into a pole and a boom truck.
The 46-year-old died from multiple injuries during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.
Kalitta, a Palmetto, Fla., resident who previously lived in Michigan, started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Engine failure at 300 mph triggered a crash that killed top Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta in June.
The New Jersey State Police said investigators determined that "catastrophic mechanical failure" caused a fuel-fired explosion in Kalitta's Toyota Solaria during a qualifying race at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
State police said the rear portion of the car's body separated, deploying the damaged parachute system. The car crashed into a pole and a boom truck.
The 46-year-old died from multiple injuries during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.
Kalitta, a Palmetto, Fla., resident who previously lived in Michigan, started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982.
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