Gordon
Nitro Member
As Indy approaches there's no doubt in anyone's mind that it's the greatest drag race on the face of the earth. They don't call it the 'Big Go' for nothin'. Maybe it's just me because I haven't had an opportunity to attend in quite a while, but I think it's lost a little bit of it's mystique. So, since I don't like to bring up a problem without a proposed solution, I ask this...
What if NHRA developed a double elimination bracket for the pro classes at Indy only? I know it would involve a lot more expenditure for everyone, with the most impact on the low budget teams. Also, eliminations would have to begin on Saturday & they'd probably have to sacrifice at least one of the qualification rounds, but wouldn't it be awesome?
Let's use last year as an example. Whit rolls in deep against Ron and wins on a hole shot. As I recall, a lot of folks were up in arms after that happened because Ron was in a tough points battle. But now consider my idea above. Ron moves over to the losers bracket and advances to the final (where he earns those elusive eight points). In a perfect world, he would meet up with Whit from the winners bracket. Better yet, for the sake of drama, he would beat Whit twice in a row to take home the Wally. That would make for great racing, I think. Just one example, but the possibilities are limitless.
Again, I know the money is the biggest negating factor & I don't have an answer for that. But look at NASCAR's biggest race - Daytona. They run the twin 125's, etc. It's a full week of great racing. Indy merely has one extra round of qualifying as well as the Ringers Pro Bike Challenge & the Skoal Showdown, but they could be moved, couldn't they? I suppose they add to the excitement of Indy, but not any more than double eliminations would & if they develop a way to rotate the races within a race, then everyone gets to see them in all different conditions. Perhaps move the specialty races ahead or back one race each year so they rotate throughout the circuit.
Anyway, I'm just curious about what everyone else thinks. I know it's a pipe dream, but without dreams what do we have? If everyone thinks it's a terrible idea I can accept that, I was just curious.
What if NHRA developed a double elimination bracket for the pro classes at Indy only? I know it would involve a lot more expenditure for everyone, with the most impact on the low budget teams. Also, eliminations would have to begin on Saturday & they'd probably have to sacrifice at least one of the qualification rounds, but wouldn't it be awesome?
Let's use last year as an example. Whit rolls in deep against Ron and wins on a hole shot. As I recall, a lot of folks were up in arms after that happened because Ron was in a tough points battle. But now consider my idea above. Ron moves over to the losers bracket and advances to the final (where he earns those elusive eight points). In a perfect world, he would meet up with Whit from the winners bracket. Better yet, for the sake of drama, he would beat Whit twice in a row to take home the Wally. That would make for great racing, I think. Just one example, but the possibilities are limitless.
Again, I know the money is the biggest negating factor & I don't have an answer for that. But look at NASCAR's biggest race - Daytona. They run the twin 125's, etc. It's a full week of great racing. Indy merely has one extra round of qualifying as well as the Ringers Pro Bike Challenge & the Skoal Showdown, but they could be moved, couldn't they? I suppose they add to the excitement of Indy, but not any more than double eliminations would & if they develop a way to rotate the races within a race, then everyone gets to see them in all different conditions. Perhaps move the specialty races ahead or back one race each year so they rotate throughout the circuit.
Anyway, I'm just curious about what everyone else thinks. I know it's a pipe dream, but without dreams what do we have? If everyone thinks it's a terrible idea I can accept that, I was just curious.
