NHRA Fastest 128 cars

[mike withers]

Ed Fernandez, I like your choice of race cars. One of my first cars was an S/C Rambler and I still race a AMX SS/c. As per not allowing class winners who run .5 under to race in the eliminations at Indy I think is a bad idea. Class eliminations is the essence of Indy. You bring your best to test the rest in your class.If you win class you have bragging rights plus a little class money to help defray the cost of a week at Indy. Now it appears If you can't run 1. under stay home. NHRA will deprive the spectators and racers of viewing a truely representative sampling of the best muscle cars built in America.

[Ron Ortiz]

Mr. Roerhrich,
First of all I have done alot of research, that is how I came along with my combination about 25 years ago. I've been to Indy and have qualified #96 when they had a 96 car field. There were 4 of us running U/SA and I was the fastest running about .35 under. Class winners automatically qualified. The way it should be, regardless of how far under they are. If you think that just because there is'nt alot of cars in a certain class, and they only run about .35 to .5 under they should not be allowed to be class winners and qualify for the big show, then why don't you just build one and join in the fun and be the bad boy at .75 under.
As fas as cars that run .5 under that can be purchased off the lot, that is BS. Maybe a FWD car or a turbo, but not any traditional combo.
As far as FWD cars are concerned, that is a whole different animal that NHRA has no idea about factoring. (no offense to you FWD guys). if about 30 showed up it would really piss off alot of racers, probably about 30 of them.
The idea of only taking the fastest cars for qualified spots is a joke, especially when you have some classes that have bogus combos in it, aftermarket parts that are available to certain combos only, and the total lack of Glendora backing up their own tech people when they find individuals bending the rules to their advantage.
If you are bored with the whining, then quit whining about lowering the indexes and push to remove the trigger.
INDY is for class winners, always has been always should be.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA

[Alan Roehrich]

Ed,
I had NOTHING to do with the rule change. I had no idea it was coming, and gave no input. I do not know who asked for it, or if any racer actually asked for it. Ever think it might have something to do with NHRA trying to make class racing more appealing to fans, TV, and sponsors?

When we did not qualify, we didn't bitch, didn't whine, and didn't ask for ANYTHING. We went home, and went to work. We're still working.

There's nothing wrong with racing on a budget, using brains and hard work instead of money to be competitive. It should be encouraged. However, winning a class with one car in it, and being 3 tenths short of the 128th car is not what I'd call competitive. Odds are, if you can't qualify on time, if there was another car or two in your class, you might not win class either.

I think different cars being competitive is cool. There are plenty of classes, and room for a lot of different cars. And that is good. Slower cars from lower classes being competitive and winning races is good as well, and the way it should be.

It's funny to hear people say "you go to Indy and run class to test yourself against the best" and call winning a class with one car in it testing themselves against the best. The best what? Set of timing clocks? Oh well, if that's "racing", and "testing yourself against the best" to you, then good for you. Enjoy it.