Wed, 4 Nov 2009, 04:18 PM NHRA Competition and Technical Departments Conduct Test with Help from Cruz Pedregon

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Testing Objective is to Reduce Power in Top Fuel and Funny Car Categories

LAS VEGAS -- Racing

Pedregon prepares to test.

NHRA, working with Cruz Pedregon Racing, recently conducted a series of test runs following the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was part of NHRA's Competition and Technical Departments' continuing initiative to find a new combination designed to reduce power in the nitromethane categories in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

The combination tested with Cruz Pedregon's team included a single magneto, one less clutch disc and a smaller fuel pump. Currently, nitromethane race vehicles employ two magnetos in their engine set-ups. Overall, the test was encouraging, although further testing will continue in the weeks and months ahead. NHRA's Dan Olson, Cruz Pedregon, and his crew chief Rahn Tobler worked together on tune-up changes and strategies between each test run.

"I was very encouraged by the test," Pedregon said. "We obtained some good data that will give us a great starting point for further tests. We were pleased that NHRA allowed us to participate and Dan Olson, Rahn and the entire team worked hard to yield some great results."

NHRA will work with Cruz Pedregon Racing to schedule more testing during the off-season. In addition, NHRA will continue to work with Tim Wilkerson and his team on the combination tested earlier in the season which included decreasing displacement, use of a smaller capacity fuel pump, decrease in percentage overdrive in the blower, a change on the rear-end gear ratios, and the use of 90 percent nitromethane.

NHRA reiterated that this is strictly a testing and research project at this point. It remains too early in the process to discuss any implementation plans or dates. Once any decision is finalized, NHRA will give ample time for teams to adjust accordingly. There is no completion date scheduled for the research/testing phase of this project.

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