Quote:
Originally Posted by bill dedman
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?
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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.