[Chris Williams]

The easiest and fastest way to understand index racing is to watch any .90 class (10.90, 9.90, 8.90) standing near the finish line. Watch the racers and listen to the engines. You'll see people:

- Running it out the back door -- they think they've got it dialed perfectly and they're happy with their light. Or they're unhappy with their light and they're just hanging on hoping they'll catch the other guy and win.

- Racing the stripe (on and off the gas/brakes) -- they think they're pretty close but they want to be sure to win by just a wheel or so, take any more than necessary and you risk breaking out.

- Dumping the other guy (off the gas or on the brakes hard) -- they think the other guy is fast and will break out, they want to be sure they don't. This takes the biggest cahones, because you better be right. You're giving up the win, betting on a breakout. If they don't, you're hosed.

- Looking over their shoulder -- they're the slower car in MPH (so they're on the stop a shorter time, and have taken off on the other guy), they're trying to judge the stripe (see above) with a car that's coming up on them fast.

- Slapping their head -- they made one of the above choices wrong, and they are pissed... Remember, this is all happening at 150-200 mph, it takes a lot of practice to get it right.

Watch at the end, note the times and the win light, and you'll catch on soon enough.