The one thing I saw on the tv that I didn't like when I heard it, is when they were interviewing "The Snake", and he said he would like to see the qualifying system changed. He wants it to be more like NASCAR, whereas if you finish in the top ten in points, then you are guaranteed a spot in the field, as long as you can keep your top ten points position. Fall out of the top ten and you are not guaranteed a spot. I even hate this in NASCAR. I truly don't like Michael Waltrip, but there have been many races that on speed he qualified better than some of the premeir drivers, but then gets booted out of the races based solely on owners points? What the F' is that? It is racing. There are no guarantees. If they go to that type of qualifying system, I think I may have to start looking for more IHRA races on tv.

The stands were not nearly as full as years past.
On Saturday I thought the crowd was decent, as we were squished into general admission. Then I walked around and saw that a large section of bleachers had been set aside for MAC tools people, which was nice but fairly unused. With less seats available it looked fuller then it was. Of the 3 days I was there Saturday did have the biggest crowd.

Sunday I took a picture of the stands across the track during a nitro session. I was shocked at the lack of people, especially for Indy.

Monday was even worse. Once I get the pics uploaded I'll post them.

Who knows if its the countdown or not but I've been to the last 5 straight Indy's at I don't remember seeing the stands look like that.

I don't get how you guys can find manufacturing points to be exciting. If they decided to just redo them before the Finals at Pomona wouldn't that be even more "exciting". What if they redid them after every race? Every race is a playoff, win and move on, lose and go home. There is no time outs, redos, no half time you either bring it or park it. I dont' care if a driver wraps it up early. There are still races to win then.


I guess I just don't like being treated like a puppet. Being told hey we're gonna just tell you this is exciting, alter the points to make it so and call it competition. Nascars numbers have dropped since their first year of the chase. I don't believe we have enough people to absorb such losses. For me its not just a matter of not liking the system, I truely believe that it is harmful to growth and health of our sport.

And Yes Paul I was at Indy, of course I could tell you how I ended up going and about the surprise packet of tickets that arrived at my house and from who. But hey its more "exciting" if I don't

__________________
Click here for NHRA Points Petition
Tact is for those not witty enough for sarcasm

The main allure of drag racing is its unpredictability. You just never know what is going to happen on any given run. Yes everybody loves the competition but think about it, how many times have you heard " That's why we line them up and race"???

It would appear that all of these changes are watering down this basic concept by artifically creating the sense of competition and reward.

Snakes idea to me really sucks. The reason is simple. If you or I go to a race and we are not good enough to qualify we don't race. Why should it be different than anybody else? Because they have more money?? Because it is their job and they have to show for their sponsors??? The very first drag race was two cars racing to find out who was best. Why change it?

As for suspense about what is going to happen, has nobody been watching what has happend in the previous championships??? Sure there are going to be some people stinking up the joint because they were good enough to win a lot. So next time be better yourself and beat them. Since when did drag racing about garuntees???

So having said that the questions is will you watch the races??? Absolutely but not for the "countdown" but because I love drag racing. I have drivers and cars that I like and support and those that I do not. But this gives it a good flavor. I watch races because I love the racing.

of course this is just one man's opinon.
jim

The only reason I posted the old style Points is because it is intersting to see what could of been. There is a ton of variables that changes the way a team runs. I don't buy the fact that the teams that clinched spots have been testing up until Indy. Their goals are to win races and keeping the sponsors happy. Losing first round doesn't do that. Greg Anderson and Jason Line were in a slump over the summer. They had hurt some good engines and were playing catch up. Maybe teams lose some intensity because they have clinched a spot in the Countdown but they are still trying to win every race.

I think the countdown is good for the sport overall. It can only increase exsposure since NHRA rarely gets media coverage unless there is an accident. The only thing I don't like about the countdown is they reset the points again for the final two races. If the leaders at that point win the Vegas race it is pretty much clinched.

The NHRA sent you tickets?

If you think watching all the tire smoke in qualifying is bad now, wait and see all the aborted up in smoke runs if they did instigate some sort of seeded qualifying B.S. were (x) amount of teams were gauranteed a starting spot.

They would just be using all four qualifying runs as test runs.
Greg Anderson could put Toyo and Mickey Thompson and Hoosier tires on his car for National Event condition test-n-tunes then swap back to goodyears on Sunday for race mode.

Stupid hypothetical situation but you get the point.