Sun, 30 Sep 2001, 08:01 PM CHICAGO-2 - Funny Car Round 3 Eliminations

By Dave Rowe

JOLIET, Ill. - Results of round 3 eliminations in Funny Car at the Inaugural NHRA Nationals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 John Force          4.756 311.49  Q    3 Tony Pedregon       4.794 313.51
   (D Skuza     ) 0.519  4.771 321.96  E1   (R Capps     ) 0.497  4.773 322.88
   (J Toliver   ) 0.499  4.822 319.67  E2   (T Johnson Jr) 0.484  4.840 319.07
 *****WINNER***** 0.532  6.985 188.46  E3                  0.497  8.546 105.77

2:47 PM This one was a tire smoking duel. They both go up in smoke about sixty feet out, Pedregon worse than Force. Force pedals, four or five times, the rear of the car weaving back and forth, but he never gives up and takes the win. Pedregon pedals, starts moving all over the track and bangs into the wall at the 1000 foot mark.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Whit Bazemore       4.750 323.27  Q    5 Frank Pedregon      4.817 313.00
   (C Etchells  ) 0.510  4.764 325.45  E1   (G Densham   ) 0.499  4.779 322.96
   (J Gray      ) 0.530  4.794 320.58  E2   (B Gilbertson) 0.508  4.834 317.19
 *****WINNER***** 0.494  4.807 322.19  E3                  0.512  4.834 314.90

Bazemore gets the holeshot but Pedregon starts gaining ground. He starts mixing up cylinders before he gets to half track and Bazemore drives on through for the win. Bazemore will take on Force in the finals, Bazemore with the lane choice. Margin of victory = 0.045 seconds (approximately 21 feet).

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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