[Dragsinger]

To me, the answer is yes, the electric is better. My reason being you have much more control with the electric pump. Example, you are finished the burnout and easing into the staging beams when the starter realizes the pair before you has not cleared the track. Because of a spill, you have to wait 10 minutes before running. With the electric pump you can easily bring the engine back to per-burnout temp. If you had an engine driven pump, you would not have that option.

By using an electric water pump with an electric fan and having separate switches for each, you can put the engine temp at the same place each run. Of course, consistent engine temp is one more tool toward a consistent running car.