Should backup cars be allowed during eliminations? (9 Viewers)

[Axman]

doug would also have not been allowed to use shawn's backup car, or anyone else's backup car. only doug's own backup car.
but a funny car can use someone else's body, but not someone else's chassis, only their own backup chassis.
does this all sound correct?

doug would also have not been allowed to use shawn's backup car, or anyone else's backup car. only doug's own backup car.
but a funny car can use someone else's body, but not someone else's chassis, only their own backup chassis.
does this all sound correct?

Does this apply to all classes or just T/F and F/C?

 

[none]

Remember Matt Smith switching from the Suzuki to the Buell?

Alan

 

[turbo ken]

Jordan Vandergriff asked when was Doug's back up car last run and was told "never". It was a brand new car, warmed up only twice, and was to be tested in Brainerd but it rained out. Out of the box untested it ran 3.81 @ 335mph

This is what I was curious about, I always heard/thought that a brand new "never" run car's first pass could only be a half track, checkout pass.

 

[none]

This is what I was curious about, I always heard/thought that a brand new "never" run car's first pass could only be a half track, checkout pass.

That rule went away in the mid 90s. They used to let you do the half pass in the morning, then come back for Q1 later in the day.

Someone (Steve Gibbs maybe?) finally realized that was a waste of time, so the rule was scrapped.

Alan

 

[Butch]

So if you run #1 car 1st round of qualifying and decide #2 car may be a better choice. Then you crash in Rd 2 of eliminations, in this situation you can't go back to #1 car?

On the other point, I've always thought the points should go to the car and team.

 

[none]

The rule states that you may change cars (or motorcycles) at any time, for any reason. But only one change is allowed per event. Once you have changed you can not change back, or change to a third car.

Remember Topeka '99? Gary Scelzi blew a tire Q1 and twisted the back of the chassis, and they brought out the back up car. Q3 lost the engine and broke the car in half. The Q1 car was not hurt bad, but they could not swap back. They took to Q3 car to Neil & Parks shop, used the cocoon from the Q3 car, cut the front half off the Q1 car and borrowed a bolt-on rear section from John Mitchell who had one of the three piece bolt together chassis' (remember those?) and welded the Q3 car together for eliminations. They went to the Semis that Sunday.

But they had to fix and race the Q3 car, even though the Q1 car would have been much easier to repair. That car became known as FrankenFueler and was sold to Ron Smith in Seattle. He ran it for many years. I honestly don't know if he is still running it, but he may be.

Alan