NHRA Shortens Nitro Cars to 1,000 Feet As Kalitta Investigation Continues

This made our news desk after our "Race-Talk" program was produced. You'll notice the answers to some questions I asked on Sunday, June 22.

NHRA SHORTENS RACE DISTANCE FOR TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR CLASSES TO 1,000FEET AS INTERIM SAFETY STEP WHILE KALITTA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to1,000 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 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."
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That's what the NHRA's saying. Some of the insiders suggest these changes needed to be made a while ago. That's extreme Monday Morning Quarterbacking. However, the sanctioning body acted decisively--and didn't wait 7 months to publish a study or change things to find out what works.

"Rainout Theatre at Richmond"

This is Danica Patrick's Dallara Honda getting ready to go back in the transporter after a strong shower cut back the practice before tonight's qualifying. USAC has sprint cars and Silver Crown cars on the property as well.

The qualifying session for Saturday night's SunTrust Indy Challenge is slated to begin at 7:30 local time.

Now that I have some time to digest what NHRA announced on their investigation into Scott Kalitta's fatal crash...

~What they found seems consistent with what happened on the video. Of course, there may have been other video that was recorded but not used by ESPN, and that video was likely reviewed.

~The top end at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park has a gradual concrete curve which was designed to funnel out of control cars that may have shot through the "kitty litter/sand/etc". back into the "kitty litter" to slow the cars down. But when a car gets airborne, that curve would seem to serve like the pocket of a baseball glove once all of the crashing against the television camera boom was complete. This can be illustrated by looking at an aerial photo of the facility.

~The Ford/Delphi "Blue Box' evidently survived the explosion and crash, and is yielding some valuable information. You can thank Dan Davis...the soon-to-retire boss of Ford Racing...for greenlighting this project, which put the data recorder in each Funny Car this season.

~Engine failure with 7,000+ horsepower is a fact of life. It can be mitigated with stronger engine parts...but stronger parts trade power for reliability. Power in a nitro funny car or Top Fuel car translates to speed.

~Parachute mounting: The inflation of the parachutes didn't happen. Does one suppose that an auxiliary chute could be mounted to the chassis of the Funny Car, set to deploy if the body blows off?

Just some thoughts as the straight line guys get ready for racing at Norwalk Ohio. We'll keep our eyes on the sky...and rejoin you with some qualifying highlights.

$100,000 for Bad Nitro--Don Schumacher Racing gets whacked in the wallet

NHRA announced a fine of $100,000 was levied on Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) for what the sanctioning body called a "fuel violation" prior to eliminations here at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals. The announcement lacked specificity, but stated a reference to the fuel regulations on Page 64 in the 2008 Rule Book. Schumacher Racing was fined for a violation of the regulations on nitromethane (the fuel that is used in Top Fuel and Funny Cars). Nitromethane has to be supplied from official suppliers that NHRA designates. Fuel anywhere on the grounds (in the race car, or anywhere else) can be tested at anytime. The penalty (and we quote from the rule book here (Section 4-General Regulations):

"Any participant who violates any rule regarding nitromethane shall be banned from competition at the applicable event, or shall be subject to such other penalty deemed appropriate by NHRA."

How can they tell bad nitro: It must have some sort of dye (like the diesel fuel you buy at the pump) which will change color if the nitro has been sensitized or contaminated.

Short take: DSR's drivers keep their points (at least for the moment)...but the organization gets a six figure whack in the wallet. It's easier to make up the dollars than points.

DSR fields not just Tony Schumacher and Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel. Gary Scelzi, "Fast Jack Beckman" Jerry Tolliver and Ron Capps drive Funny Cars under the DSR banner. Capps and McClenathan have advanced to the semi finals.

UPDATE: Schumacher is appealing the fine. He came into the press room, and explained that he had a supply from a previously unapproved (since Gainesville it's been approved) nitromethane supplier. Under the letter of the regulation, it's illegal. Under the spirit, there's a difference in opinion, which concerns money and suppliers.