Make mine vanilla

[my friends call me Zappy]

Yes I do enjoy a rare pedalfest. But not a smoke-a-thon. I don't understand why nhra bans the buttons in favor of a lever. Seems from a safety standpoint the buttons are safer. With both the driver controls when the shift is made, but with the button both hands stay on the wheel.
Just a thought.

 

[twostep]

I don't understand why nhra bans the buttons in favor of a lever.

For the reasons I mentioned earlier. To preserve the essence of a street machine, if only in a small way, and to keep the class from becoming too technical (read expensive). Pushbutton air shifters that I've seen on Pro Stock cars, back when they were allowed, were floor mounted, so they were still driving with one hand.

It's not as dangerous as it sounds. Here's a good Pro Stock in-car video (the audio is terrible). The run begins at 2:00. The driver one-hands it all the way down with no issues, other than a bit of wiggling at the launch.

YouTube - Pro Stock - In Car Indy Round 1