NHRA
Sonoma: Goodyear Racing summary
FIVE GOODYEAR-EQUIPPED CARS WIN IN NHRA RACE AT INFINEON SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2005) -- Drivers racing on Goodyear tires won five times in the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, equaling the total of ...
Edited: Aug 4, 2005, 12:53 AM
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FIVE GOODYEAR-EQUIPPED CARS WIN IN NHRA RACE AT INFINEON
SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2005) -- Drivers racing on Goodyear tires won five times in the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, equaling the total of all other tiremakers combined.
Goodyear-equipped cars lead the tire industry in victories in NHRA national event competition.
"Our tires performed well despite the aggressive nature of this facility," said Chris Johenning, Goodyear's lead engineer for drag racing. "The track at Infineon is particularly challenging. It has an abrasive surface, and the near proximity to sea level provides good air density for horsepower and downforce. All this combines to make it hard on tires."
It was a record-setting weekend in the professional classes. Elapsed time and top speed records were set in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock racing. Some records were set and reset more than once as the weekend rolled along. Sunny and comfortable conditions contributed to the fast-paced action.
Doug Kalitta won in Top Fuel, Gary Scelzi took the Funny Car win, Greg Anderson was the Pro Stock winner, Steve Gasparrelli won in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Jim Sowards was the winner in Super Gas.
Anderson's victory was the first for the new Pontiac GTO.
"We've stayed on the same tire," Anderson said. "The new car is different, but the chassis is the same."
Anderson said the information his team has generated with the Goodyear tires supplied to the Pro Stock teams could be applied to the new car.
"It does trade over, but there are small differences," Anderson said.
Anderson's win was the 35th of his career, drawing him even with Don Garlits on the all-time list.
The Goodyear name was prevalent in the Lucas Oil Sportsman classes. Goodyear-shod racers made it to the final round in Super Gas, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Competition Eliminator. The final rounds in Super Gas and Top Alcohol Funny Car were strictly Goodyear affairs and six of the eight cars to advance to the second round in Top Alcohol Dragster used Goodyear tires.
Of the 12 cars that advanced to the final round in the sportsman classes, half used Goodyear tires.
Gasparrelli's victory came against Doug Gordon. Both cars were equipped with Goodyear's D1022 rear drive tire.
Sowards' victory in the Super Gas final came against Jed Bourquin. Bourquin also raced on Goodyear tires.
The next race for the NHRA Powerade Series will be Aug. 11-14 in Brainerd, Minn.
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