Can anyone tell me????
 

Why this lopsided situation exists?


Class Pounds per horsepower Index next class index

A/SA 8.0 11.00 Minus .25!!!!!!!

B/SA 8.5 11.25 .15

C/SA 9.0 11.40 .15

D/SA 9.5 11.55 .15

E/SA 10.0 11.70 .15

F/SA 10.5 11.85 .15

G/SA 11.0 12.0 .15

H/SA 11.5 12.15 .15

j/SA 12.0 12.30 .15

J/SA 12.5 12.45 .15

K/SA 13.0 12.60 .15

How did A/SA earn an extra tenth on their index, compared with all those other classes?

Would this not be a significant detriment to qualifyig at Indy, for example?

What situation precipitated this state of affairs? Is it fair????

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

A/S is10.95 and AA/S and AA/SA are both 10.60.

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

I am easily confused; I don't understand how those indexes relate to the situation I was asking about. Can you connect the two for me?

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Take your meds and retire early old timer.It will pass.

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Thank you, doctor; I wasn't aware you were still practicing... :)

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Bill K/SA is a 12.65 and L/SA is 12.70. Thats always been strange to me .:D

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Not always just this year.lol you right though always been .05 diff . just funnin .

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Here's the connection, Bill. The AA classes were campaigned for by owners, drivers, and engine builders of the big block and Hemi cars. When they gave us the class, they asked us what the index should be. We felt that 10.90, an index that separated us from the A classes by 4 tenths would allow us to regularly show the fans low ten second and high nine second performances, allowing the cars to really run. We accepted the fact that it would be difficult to qualify at races where it was required. When NHRA lowered the indexes 3 tenths, it made it pretty much impossible for a traditional car to qualify at Indy, as you will probably have to run a 9.50 or better (the very best of the traditional cars might do it in excellent air and track conditions). So, I'd say no one got hit harder by the indexes being lowered than the guys running traditional combinations in AA, the very people who campaigned for the classes.

Yes, we can still run A, and we likely will at some races. No, we won't be complaining about it much. We'll play the hand we were dealt.

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Bill -

Some of the reason (although there seems little reason to it now) goes back to the period shortly after the index system was initiated. The first index lists were "even" from class to class, then adjusted because of the number of competitors in certain classes who were disproportionately faster than the rest of the field. During those times, adjusting power factors was not popular at all, but adjusting indexes was more accepted (a strong pride factor was involved). It is leftover evidence of early attempts to level the playing field.

The top classes always were penalized. Some of the justification was the performance levels of the participants in those classes; some of it was trying to make those classes less attractive to allow the "little guys" more chance to win (according to Farmer). It worked for a while, but $$ and egos combine for quite a force.

Re: Can anyone tell me????
 

Making all of the classes one pound breaks would help even things out and provide more racing in each class (can you say AHFS)........lol.