Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Larry Dixon Miller Lite Top Fueler |
Reports: Monday Sunday Saturday Friday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Monday: Two-time defending NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon held his ground in the NHRA Top Fuel points standings Monday at Indianapolis Raceway Park after racing to a semifinal finish at the 50th running of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
In the opening round of Top Fuel eliminations, the two-time U.S. Nationals winner (1995, 2001) bested Rhonda Hartman-Smith after recording a run of 4.972 seconds at 276.13 mph to Hartman-Smith's 5.890, 200.98 pass. The 35-time NHRA winner then recorded the second quickest elapsed time of the second round of eliminations when he used a tune-up from crew chief Dick LaHaie to power his Miller Lite dragster to a run of 4.652 at 316.08 to hold off T.J. Zizzo's 4.729 at 305.08. The 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year used a starting line advantage over semifinal opponent Doug Kalitta before Dixon's Miller Lite rail spun the tires, allowing Kalitta to drive by and earn the round win. Kalitta powered to a run of 4.628 at 315.78 to hold off Dixon's 4.919 at 274.66. With his semifinal finish, Dixon now sits just 21 points from fourth place in the 2004 points standings.
Indianapolis, Sunday: Two-time defending NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon qualified his Miller Lite dragster in the No. 5 position Sunday at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the home of drag racing's 'Super Bowl' event.
Dixon, a 35-time NHRA winner, saved his best for last, using a Dick LaHaie tune-up to power to a performance of 4.575 seconds at 316.83 mph, after recording a pass of 4.687 at 306.95 in the heat of the day on Sunday afternoon. Dixon's 4.575-second elapsed time is his best E.T. since NHRA implemented the 85-percent nitromethane rule in late July.
"We've run pretty well, but that doesn't guarantee anything," Dixon said. "We have to go out there and race Rhonda Hartman-Smith and hope we do better than her and take things one run at a time. I was really pleased with the 4.57 because I know Dicko (Dick LaHaie) has been trying to run that number."
The two-time U.S. Nationals winner (1995, 2001) will face No. 12 qualifier Rhonda Hartman-Smith in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at 11 a.m. (CT) on Monday, Sept. 6. Dixon is 15-1 in his career against Hartman-Smith and 1-0 in 2004.
Indianapolis, Saturday: Two-time U.S. Nationals winner (1995, 2001) Larry Dixon raced his Miller Lite dragster to its best qualifying performance of the weekend Saturday at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
After making his best run since NHRA implemented the 85-percent nitromethane rule change in late July on Friday's opening qualifying attempt at the Nationals, the 35-time NHRA winner followed that up by driving his Miller-backed dragster to two consistent performances on Saturday. The two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion powered his dragster to the quickest run of the second Top Fuel qualifying session by clocking a run of 4.632 seconds at 312.50 mph. Dixon then used a tune-up from crew chief Dick LaHaie to record a pass of 4.605 at 318.24 to place him in fifth in the Top Fuel order at the 50th running of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.
"We were low for the session on the first run on Saturday," Dixon said. "The performance of the car was real good today. I think we were looking for a little more on the second pass, but we were still fourth quickest of the session. It's certainly encouraging to have the quickest time during the heat of the day."
Indianapolis, Friday: Two-time defending NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon drove his Miller Lite dragster to the No. 4 qualifying position Friday at Indianapolis Raceway Park after powering to a run of 4.608 seconds at 315.19 mph.
The two-time U.S. Nationals winner (1995, 2001) blasted his Dick LaHaie-tuned rail to the 4.608, 315.19 performance on his opening qualifying attempt at the 50th running of drag racing's premier event.
"It was a pretty nice run," Dixon said. "That's the best run we've made on 85-percent nitro(methane). It's only one run, but it appears we've gotten things corrected with our blower belt problems. We're solidly in the field and hopefully we can come out tomorrow night and improve our position."
Indianapolis, pre-race: Two weeks ago in Memphis, Tenn., Larry Dixon drove his Miller Lite dragster to the winner's circle and in doing so equaled his racing idol Don Garlits with 35 career NHRA Top Fuel victories.
The two-time defending NHRA Top Fuel champion and his Miller Lite crew didn't stop to rest on their laurels, making the 480-mile trip to Indianapolis Raceway Park to spend two days testing to improve the performance of the Miller Lite dragster to ensure a strong run at the final six races of the 2004 NHRA season, beginning with the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at I.R.P.
"The main objective at testing is to make the car run better," Dixon said. "For the conditions at Memphis, we had a good setup after the first round. That's Memphis, Tennessee, we're 500 miles away from that place, that's why we tested at Indy, to try and work on the setup for this track."
Dixon has had the right setup on race day at the Nationals two times in his nine races as a driver at I.R.P., winning in his rookie season in 1995, and six years later when crew chief Dick LaHaie earned his first Nationals triumph tuning Dixon to his second career U.S. Nationals victory.
"Both of my Indy wins are meaningful in their own way," Dixon said. "Winning on Snake's (Don Prudhomme) crew in 1989 when we doubled-up to win the Skoal Showdown and the race is still my Indy highlight."
Having the right setup is only half the battle. Surviving the six-day grind and all the events and appearances leading up to the race is an entirely different animal. With sponsors, family and friends in and out of the pit area all weekend long, keeping the race crew and driver focused on that job of winning rounds is as equally as important as making the right call on the tune-up of the Miller Lite car.
"As soon as the car starts up, nobody can talk to me at that point," Dixon said. "That's my world and my time. I'll be ready when the engine fires. There are less distractions at this race then there are at Pomona (Calif.) for me because I grew up in Los Angeles. I don't feel like I have a home court advantage or anything since I live in Indy. It's like all the races, you just try and go out there and do well."
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