Sun, 12 Nov 2000, 07:50 PM POMONA-2 - Federal-Mogul Funny Car Round 2 Eliminations

By Larry Sullivan

POMONA, Calif. - Results of round 2 eliminations in Federal-Mogul Funny Car at the 36th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals:

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   1 Pat Austin          5.680 252.52  Q    9 Steve Gasparrelli   5.815 238.26
   (M Littlefiel) 0.458  5.640 255.44  E1   (J Payne     ) 0.453  5.741 252.95
                  0.470  5.622 255.05  E2 *****WINNER***** 0.480  5.592 255.82

4:14 PM Wow! What a race! Austin left first and everyone assumed the race was over at that point, but Gasparrelli made a career-best run to take the win light by a margin of victory = 0.020 seconds (approximately 7 feet).

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   2 Larry Miner         5.682 256.84  Q    7 Rod Alexander       5.785 250.18
   (V Moats     ) 0.505  5.716 245.36  E1   (E Marx      ) 0.483  9.872  92.36
 *****WINNER***** 0.440 No Time        E2                  0.490 No Time

Wild. Both cars shook very hard on the launch and both drivers got out of the throttle. Alexander pedaled and there was a flash of flame from his engine compartment. Miner saw Alexander was in trouble and got back on the throttle, the car fishtailing violently. Miner pedaled, fishtailed, pedaled, brushed the wall, pedaled, almost crossed the centerline, then got to the finish line. A check at the end of the track showed scrape marks on Miner's rear quarter panel, so he was DQ'ed and Alexander gets the win. But he may not be able to return...more on that later.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   4 Bucky Austin        5.746 248.84  Q    5 Doug Gordon         5.763 250.18
   (J Bartoli   ) 0.523  5.720 249.35  E1   (B Harrington) 0.499 10.757  78.01
 *****WINNER***** 0.486  5.707 250.55  E2                  0.486 14.408  59.16

Gordon had problems on the launch, the engine going silent almost immediately. He idled through while Austin made a full pass. But Bucky could not match Gasparrelli's frantic pace, so Steve will have lane choice over Bucky.

 Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-Rd-Qua-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed
   3 John Weaver         5.692 251.86  Q   11 Russ Parker         5.842 247.34
   (J Field     ) 0.469  5.620 256.16  E1   (P Swayne    ) 0.413  5.846 226.47
                  0.000 No Time        E2 *****WINNER***** 0.534  5.786 246.71

Weaver was unable to return, destroying his car in round one, so parker gets a single here - and he is slated to meet Alexander, who also may not be able to return, in the semifinals. He made a full pass and it appeared a header may have come off in the shutdown area, the car trailing sparks as he slowed. He will have lane choice against Alexander should Alexander be able to return.