DIXON - 'NEW TIRE AND THOUSAND-FOOT REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT"
Sun, 2008-08-31 12:28
Larry Dixon breathed a sigh of relief as he took over the top
qualifying position in Top Fuel at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in
Indianapolis.
Dixon’s 3.841 elapsed time at 307.23 pushed down Friday’s top effort turned in by Cory McClenathan.
Ever since the NHRA shortened the length of the drag strip for nitro cars, Dixon and the United States Smokeless team have struggled to regain their consistency. The change in distance coupled with the new Goodyear D2550 tire did not work into their favor. Larry Dixon breathed a sigh of relief as he took over the top qualifying position in Top Fuel at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Dixon’s 3.841 elapsed time at 307.23 pushed down Friday’s top effort turned in by Cory McClenathan.
Ever since the NHRA shortened the length of the drag strip for nitro cars, Dixon and the United States Smokeless team have struggled to regain their consistency. The change in distance coupled with the new Goodyear D2550 tire did not work into their favor.
“Going to 1,000 feet has tightened the field so much that the only benefit of qualifying on the top is that you can choose which pair you run on race day,” Dixon admitted.
“The Goodyear tire and 1,000 foot racing has changed the way we race,” Dixon said. “We’ve had to adapt to that. It takes time and since we cannot test, there’s a lot of things that go against you. You just have to keep making runs and getting beat. But you work through it.”
Dixon credited crew chiefs Donnie Bender and Todd Smith with making this transition bearable.
“Some guys hit it like a duck to water,” Dixon continued. “Our car was one of the better running cars from 1,000-feet beyond. Now we don’t have that anymore. The tire we have is better but it just hasn’t worked as well for us.”
Larry Dixon's top run in Saturday's Indy qualifying was the end-result of perserverence from his tuners.
Dixon’s 3.841 elapsed time at 307.23 pushed down Friday’s top effort turned in by Cory McClenathan.
Ever since the NHRA shortened the length of the drag strip for nitro cars, Dixon and the United States Smokeless team have struggled to regain their consistency. The change in distance coupled with the new Goodyear D2550 tire did not work into their favor. Larry Dixon breathed a sigh of relief as he took over the top qualifying position in Top Fuel at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Larry Dixon's top run in Saturday's Indy qualifying was the end-result of perserverence from his tuners.
Dixon’s 3.841 elapsed time at 307.23 pushed down Friday’s top effort turned in by Cory McClenathan.
Ever since the NHRA shortened the length of the drag strip for nitro cars, Dixon and the United States Smokeless team have struggled to regain their consistency. The change in distance coupled with the new Goodyear D2550 tire did not work into their favor.
“Going to 1,000 feet has tightened the field so much that the only benefit of qualifying on the top is that you can choose which pair you run on race day,” Dixon admitted.
“The Goodyear tire and 1,000 foot racing has changed the way we race,” Dixon said. “We’ve had to adapt to that. It takes time and since we cannot test, there’s a lot of things that go against you. You just have to keep making runs and getting beat. But you work through it.”
Dixon credited crew chiefs Donnie Bender and Todd Smith with making this transition bearable.
“Some guys hit it like a duck to water,” Dixon continued. “Our car was one of the better running cars from 1,000-feet beyond. Now we don’t have that anymore. The tire we have is better but it just hasn’t worked as well for us.”
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