|
Following the crush in Englishtown, NJ taking the life of Scott Kalitta (driver), the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) announced Wednesday that starting with the Mopar Mile High Nationals located in Denver, July 11, both Top Fuel plus Funny Car classes will be racing to 1000 feet, not the traditional 1,320 feet (meaning one-quarter mile).
Kalitta, 46 years old, died after his Toyota Solara Funny Car burned into flames close to the end of the qualifying run plus his parachutes failed down to fully deploy. The auto, traveling with more than 300 mph, now went off the track end into a catch net pole, then into... camera boom.
The NHRA issued the change in collaboration with the professional race teams in the circuit. 鈥淭he board members of the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) wholeheartedly and unanimously support this decision,鈥� said Kenny Bernstein 鈥� its president. 鈥淲e want to thank NHRA for listening to our input and suggestions to incorporate these changes. It is not lost on any of us that this constitutes a change in our history of running a quarter-mile, but it鈥檚 the most immediate adjustment we can make in the interest of safety, which is foremost on everyone鈥檚 mind. This may be a temporary change and we recognize it is not the total answer. We will continue to work hand in hand with NHRA to evaluate other methods of making Top Fuel and Funny Car competition safer so that we might return to our quarter-mile racing standard鈥�.
Auto Article Url: http://www.auto-motor-car.com/article_2749.htm
|