Tony Pedregon isn’t one to show fear but the recent manifestation of problems related to Funny Car safety has him concerned to the point he wouldn’t be opposed to slowing the class down.

“I know they have addressed the chassis that it should stay intact,” said Pedregon. “I know [chassis builder] Murf McKinney and all the teams are working together – it is great to see. When I get into this car, I hope it isn’t my turn for something to be on the track or something to create a tire failure – not a tire failing – something has to cause that tire to fail.

“For the first time in my life I left my house and made sure my insurance was taken care of and told my wife to make sure my will is intact. That’s pretty scary. I want to be safe. But, I don’t think there is enough done to make sure these cars don’t run 330. These cars shouldn’t run 330. I think they should run 310 or 315. I think that’s something the NHRA needs to handle. They will come up with a lot of reasons of why not, but they need to give reasons why. I think there are more pros than cons.”

Pedregon said he’s aware that Goodyear has taken a lot of blame for nitro racing’s problems. But, he said, maybe the sport needs to look elsewhere.

“There is still a problem that exists and it is not Goodyear’s problem,” Pedregon said. “Goodyear has made a tire that can withstand the speeds and the downforce that these cars make – 330-something miles per hour, they have done their job. You cannot ask them to do more than they have already done. I think that NHRA needs to make the tough decision like NASCAR did and slow these cars down.”

Pedregon said he wouldn’t begin to pinpoint a single problem, but he said he’s sure if it’s investigated thoroughly enough – it will be discovered.

Tony Pedregon isn’t one to show fear but the recent manifestation of problems related to Funny Car safety has him concerned to the point he wouldn’t be opposed to slowing the class down.

“I know they have addressed the chassis that it should stay intact,” said Pedregon. “I know [chassis builder] Murf McKinney and all the teams are working together – it is great to see. When I get into this car, I hope it isn’t my turn for something to be on the track or something to create a tire failure – not a tire failing – something has to cause that tire to fail.

“For the first time in my life I left my house and made sure my insurance was taken care of and told my wife to make sure my will is intact. That’s pretty scary. I want to be safe. But, I don’t think there is enough done to make sure these cars don’t run 330. These cars shouldn’t run 330. I think they should run 310 or 315. I think that’s something the NHRA needs to handle. They will come up with a lot of reasons of why not, but they need to give reasons why. I think there are more pros than cons.”

Pedregon said he’s aware that Goodyear has taken a lot of blame for nitro racing’s problems. But, he said, maybe the sport needs to look elsewhere.

“There is still a problem that exists and it is not Goodyear’s problem,” Pedregon said. “Goodyear has made a tire that can withstand the speeds and the downforce that these cars make – 330-something miles per hour, they have done their job. You cannot ask them to do more than they have already done. I think that NHRA needs to make the tough decision like NASCAR did and slow these cars down.”

Pedregon said he wouldn’t begin to pinpoint a single problem, but he said he’s sure if it’s investigated thoroughly enough – it will be discovered.

“It’s still there and John’s accident proved it,” Pedregon said. “John’s Funny car was going at a much higher rate of speed than Eric Medlen’s. The phenomenon was the same. The car ruptured a tire. A big chunk wanted to stay on the rim creating this harmonic balance. The end result is a catastrophe. Now, we are addressing that because we are making the car safer in a lot of areas.”

Pedregon said he is constantly reminded through Force’s accident and the fatal accident that cost the sport a rising star, Eric Medlen, that he’s an active participant in a volatile sport.

“The sensible part of me always reminds me that we are getting into somewhat of a time bomb,” Pedregon said. “We do go through a lot of effort and lengths to make sure we have taken the right measures and did the right things to make these cars as safe as we can. We are getting into an area that is uncharted waters.

“I’m concerned that the NHRA hasn’t slowed these cars down because the problem is still there. Have we addressed it? Well, we’ve made some improvements in the cockpit and the driver protection but is it enough to keep a driver from experiencing what happened to Eric?”