NHRA seems to be shortening the top fuel and funny car track to 1000' due to the recent accident

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

 

yeah i seen that, personally think it would be feasible to just extend the finish line landing further and leave it totally open just for this purpose, i personally think the impact of him hitting the wall is what actually killed him, then again who knows, you really think shorting the track will do it, hmm dunno but i dont think so.. not when theres a wall just down the runway a few hundred feet, well at the track where it happened at... heres the write up just copied and pasted it... my .02's




NHRA shortens race distance for Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet as an interim safety measure

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7/2/2008


As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA has announced that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colo., both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.

This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams. NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week.

With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet.

Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip.

In the wake of the tragic series of events that took Kalitta's life, the following technical issues are currently under investigation: 1) what might be done to reduce engine failures; 2) parachute mounting techniques and materials as well as identifying a parachute material that could be more fire resistant; 3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body; 4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles; 5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.

“The board members of the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) wholeheartedly and unanimously support this decision,” said its president Kenny Bernstein. “We want to thank NHRA for listening to our input and suggestions to incorporate these changes. It is not lost on any of us that this constitutes a change in our history of running a quarter-mile, but it's the most immediate adjustment we can make in the interest of safety which is foremost on everyone's mind. This may be a temporary change and we recognize it is not the total answer. We will continue to work hand in hand with NHRA to evaluate other methods of making Top Fuel and Funny Car competition safer so that we might return to our quarter-mile racing standard. We also want to thank Connie Kalitta for his invaluable input. He has been a rock through these difficult times.”

 

Wierd, it says that they will still hit 300mph @ 1000ft., don't most cross the 1/4 at 320ish mph?

IMO they should just reduce the amount of Nitro they can run... Didn't they do that several years ago, when they started going too fast and had too many explosions/accidents... I wanna say they run a 90/10 mix... Why not make them run 85/15 or 80/20 to slow them down again...

 

The NHRA needs to get with the times.....The RGV boys have been doing this for a while.

 

Bwahaha thats not right

 

OMG!!!!!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

....and the countdown begins

 

Hiliarity Blownchevy.

It did say interim. Hopefully they will come to a better solution. Extending the track will be costly to track owners. But if it is mandated, then they will have to or fear losing the chance to host. It seems they still have their work ahead of them to figure it out. I wonder whose bright idea was it to put a wall up at the end of the track.

 

I believe it was just increased to 85%-90%

LOL Oh boy!


Imo I think it is kinda stupid as well... just dont put the ******* walls so damn close to shut down. How much more does it honestly cost to extend your track the needed distance for these guys to slow down safely? And regardless of whether you shorten the track... there already ******* flying by 1000', whats the difference between 300mph and 320mph? (dont answer that smart asses lol)

 

They did cut back the nitro 2 yrs ago, i think. The crew chiefs just adjusted the setup to go just as fast.... thats why they are back up to 90/10...

I think if they could somehow reduce the engine failures, they would be safer. not sure how to do that, they already use the best stuff on the planet.