Bobby, I find this Jim Head quote, from your CompPlus article, interesting.
Quote:
Head admits his comments might not appeal to his tuning comrades, but can’t help but think the racers should shoulder some of the blame.
“Most pedal-fests are created by pedal-fest tuners,” Head said. “I smoke the tires because I smoke the tires usually. It’s really rare when that track makes me smoke the tires. It’s a drag race; we are all trying to run 0 to 390. Some tracks won’t allow you to run 390.”
The Chicago and Englishtown scenarios produced equal results for both lanes.
“I am distraught when the media or anyone talks about differences in lanes,” Head said. “If they gave lane choice to the slower car you would see fast cars still win in the lane not of choice. The reason there is an issue in the first round is all the fast cars take one lane or the other. Fast cars usually beat slow cars.
“It offends me when people talk about race tracks they can’t get down. If I thought there was a chance during a weekend that I would get put in a lane that I couldn’t get down, I wouldn’t do this. Why would I come out here and spend my money if I thought the NHRA would put me on a surface that I couldn’t do anything with.”
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Add Jim Head to my previously mentioned list of racers who don't (or didn't) gripe too much about conditions.
You qualify better, you get the better lane (if there is one) first round. You run better first round than your next round opponent did, you get to chose lanes. Maybe one's better, maybe not. But it is what it is.
Ya plays with the hand you're dealt, and adjust accordingly. Some are better than others at doing this.
I agree that the money involved, and sponsor expectations, is driving this issue. These cars have to be set up on the ragged edge, and it's too easy to go over center on the tune-up. I do agree with Head that this is more of a tuning problem than a track prep problem. Having said that, believe me when I say I'm no big fan of the way NHRA does some things.
That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!
