Quote:
Originally Posted by Stk4405
I thought the finish line photoeyes were higher than the staging photoeyes. And that's why some of the firebirds and camaro could dip the nose down at the finish line to break the beam. At least that what I was told.
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Yes, they are higher (or at least they were when I talked to someone about it 20+ years ago). The explanation I was given was that they needed to be higher to be sure the timing system did not miss the tire passing through on the top end. If they were low like the staging beams, then the period of time breaking the beam would be very short at the top end while the car is at a higher speed. With modern electronics I don't think that reason is valid any more. I've been thinking of posting this as a thread here to see if people think that the finish line beams should be lowered. I learned all about this after losing a race in Super-Gas to one of the then-new Brogie roadsters with a minimum-height front "bumper", which was obviously designed to trip the lights.
Kudos to ESPN for the good coverage, wish I would have been able to catch it (I was traveling and do not have a DVR).
Regards,