Sun, 5 Apr 2009, 01:02 PM Top Alcohol Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Bob Orme

LAS VEGAS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Top Alcohol Funny Car at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Tenth annual NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Jay Payne                            7735 Steve Gasparrelli            
E2   ****WINNER****  0.066  5.655 255.82                     0.059  6.230 198.29
 Prior rounds:
E1    (L Andreasson) 0.144  5.638 257.28      (B Smith     ) 0.100  5.674 253.71
 Qualified:             #4  5.671 256.16                        #5  5.691 253.14

9:44 a.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 65 degrees, relative humidity 23 percent, barometer 28.14 inches, adjusted altitude 2,795 feet, track temperature 73 degrees.

Gasparrelli has a 9-4 advantage over Payne in eliminations. Only two other drivers have beaten Payne more times than Gasparrelli - Frank Manzo and the late Blaine Johnson. Payne won this event in 2007 and 2008.

Gasparrelli made a move to the right shortly after the launch. He was very close to the retaining wall at 400 feet and he had to ease off the throttle.

Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-0.974 sec., 330ft-2.525, 660ft-3.742/203.86 mph, 1,000ft-4.777.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
   10 Sean O'Bannon                          63 Clint Thompson               
E2   ****WINNER****  0.036  5.682 253.33                     0.058  5.701 251.06
 Prior rounds:
E1    (B Hough     ) 0.047  5.636 256.50      (D Gordon    ) 0.026  5.649 252.95
 Qualified:             #2  5.626 256.99                        #7  5.728 251.86

O'Bannon won this event in T/AD in 2006.

Thompson had a bit of a wiggle at half track and that might have cost him the race.

Sean O'Bannon's incremental times: 60ft-0.972 sec., 330ft-2.537, 660ft-3.754/203.68 mph, 1,000ft-4.796.
Clint Thompson's incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.544, 660ft-3.764/202.33 mph, 1,000ft-4.809.

Sean O'Bannon's MOV: 0.0413 seconds (approximately 15 feet).

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
  457 Tony Bartone                          714 Dennis Taylor                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.095  5.635 252.47                     0.051  5.816 219.36
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Rupert    ) 0.077  5.628 254.76      (B Thiel     ) 0.073  5.717 250.41
 Qualified:             #1  5.586 255.15                        #9  5.736 252.80

Bartone was runner up in AA/FC at this event in 2005.

Both drivers were moving around a little, Bartone the lessor of the two. He'll have lane choice over Payne in round three.

Tony Bartone's incremental times: 60ft-0.971 sec., 330ft-2.505, 660ft-3.712/204.32 mph, 1,000ft-4.748.
Dennis Taylor's incremental times: 60ft-0.970 sec., 330ft-2.535, 660ft-3.773/198.61 mph, 1,000ft-4.849.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    4 Roger Bateman                         779 Daniel Oliver                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.145  5.624 252.43                     0.252  5.679 253.95
 Prior rounds:
E1    (J Patton    ) 0.092  5.600 254.47      (M Woznichak ) 0.085  5.670 253.71
 Qualified:             #3  5.628 254.09                        #6  5.723 252.61

Oliver was to the right of the groove from about 200 feet until almost the 1000-foot mark. Bateman was skating around some in the middle section of the track but he stayed on the throttle for the win. He'll have lane choice over O'Bannon in round three.

Roger Bateman's incremental times: 60ft-0.961 sec., 330ft-2.497, 660ft-3.703/204.98 mph, 1,000ft-4.738.
Daniel Oliver's incremental times: 60ft-1.001 sec., 330ft-2.541, 660ft-3.755/203.61 mph, 1,000ft-4.796.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink



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