How much tire smoke do we see today from 660' to 1000'? Not much, right? Usually happens before 330', no? Are the cars really at the edge of traction on that point on the track, or are other things (final drive ratio, rev limiter, something else?) limiting them today?

I don't profess to know everything (unlike some others here), but I know for a fact that if you change the game the guy with the most money, and data, has the best shot at it. And I, for one, wouldn't bet against Alan Johnson, Austin Coil, Bernie Fedderly, Rahn Tobler, etc.

Smart guys, new challenge == new records.

No I am not the expert on this, but I have the sense to listen to people who are. When just about any crew chief you ask tells you that they are giving it everything they have and that they are limited by traction and not horsepower, then I think I'll believe them. The length of the track isn't going to change how much traction they have or how much horsepower they make. The track will only take so much before their is smoke. Don't you think that if AJ could throw even more at that he would? Last I checked, he wasn't known for a short fuse so by your logic he had more tune up left since it wasn't blowing up. AJ doesn't seem like the kind of crew chief to play it safe and leave some on the table does he?

with how clean alan johnson runs the motor to 1320 can you imagine how dominant that car will be to 1000 ft. i say unfortunaly the army car will win at least 8 of the last 12 a.j's tune seems never to drop cylinders now , i think it will be a 1 car show now . i hope not! top fule will be more boring now but funny car might be wide open still. as far as records , the army car will own them all @1000 ft . bring on pro stock!

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Lets see if the temperature gets over 90 degrees in Seattle this year. If it does, you can be guaranteed that most drivers are going to be hazing the tires from 1/2 track(or would that now be 3/4 track?) to the finish line.

Nope, exactly why I'm betting he and others will do some amazing things with a new 1000' target to hit. Only time will tell.

Since they fixed the bump a couple of years past, it's been better, no? But given your location info above, and mine, we'll probably both be there to watch. I certainly will be.

Fingers crossed we'll just get good ol' "Seattle Sparkler" days of highs in the 70's, clear skies, and fresh, oxygen-laden air.

Well, I don't know for a fact because I haven't seen the incremental times, but this might not be true. The pros can tell you much better than I can - (Reaction mixed to nitro race changes)

The track is way better than it was the first couple of years i attended the race. I think they went in and reground the top end in 2001 or 2002, after alot of drivers and crew chiefs complained. One of the best quotes I've ever heard was from Lee Beard when he C.C.ed for Bernstein. He said something to the effect that it's hard to tune a top fuel dragster when you have to go across a ski jump.
Anyways, 2004 was a roaster all weekend, and the air temperature was in the low 90's and the track had to be 130+ I remember that the quickest top fuel runs were something in the mid 4.70's and there wasn't a single funny car run quicker than 5.00 because they were hazing the tires after half track.

I'll be there all three days, maybe we'll meet up at the VegasFuel pit Friday if Max Naylor is still hosting the Nitromater gang or at the nitromall on Saturday or Sunday.

Peace,
NHRAMike

Yep, there was a petition going around the pits to boycott Seattle if they didn't fix the left lane bump. Only person who got down that lane under power that whole weekend was Dick LaHaie tuning Larry Dixon. Then they fixed the track only to see record high temps. Last year rain was the problem. This year we need a good clean race, no matter how far they go. Hope to see you there, I haven't missed a day in years.

Chris

I've been fortunate enough to have only missed 1 day in the last 10 years, and that was because my wife was understanding enough to take a 5 day honeymoon instead of a week This year the first day of qualifying is on our anniversary, but as long as she gets to go with my mom and donate alot of money to the Indian casinos, she's cool with it.