PEDREGON'S BIG BANG THEORY
Wed, 2008-02-13 09:49
The
opening round of NHRA POWERade Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon’s
defense of his title didn’t go as planned, with his Quaker State
Chevrolet erupting in one of the most spectacular explosions seen in
some years. Although he escaped relatively unharmed, his race car
appeared much the worse for wear when it was returned to the pits.
Pedregon himself escaped with minor burns and more than a few bumps and
bruises, but there’s a long way to go before this year’s champions are
determined. He’ll have more than enough time to fully recover
We spoke with Pedregon early Sunday morning, before his on-track incident. Just as he was last year at the Finals here in California, Pedregon appeared calm and certain of his future. Like many others we’ve spoken with, he’s most pleased about the new Countdown program, and is looking forward to the year ahead.
The
opening round of NHRA POWERade Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon’s
defense of his title didn’t go as planned, with his Quaker State
Chevrolet erupting in one of the most spectacular explosions seen in
some years. Although he escaped relatively unharmed, his race car
appeared much the worse for wear when it was returned to the pits.
Pedregon himself escaped with minor burns and more than a few bumps and
bruises, but there’s a long way to go before this year’s champions are
determined. He’ll have more than enough time to fully recover
We spoke with Pedregon early Sunday morning, before his on-track incident. Just as he was last year at the Finals here in California, Pedregon appeared calm and certain of his future. Like many others we’ve spoken with, he’s most pleased about the new Countdown program, and is looking forward to the year ahead.
We asked him if, because of the format change, he would be changing his approach to the championship run.
“Probably,” he said. “You know, with two races to go (last year), we had a good race (winning the AC Delco Nationals in Las Vegas, one week prior to the Finals), where all three of our opponents got beaten in the first round, so really, our strategy was to come to the Finals where we almost got in the mode of trying to protect our lead rather than just go for it. That may have been a mistake. We wouldn’t do that again.
“With six races (after the Countdown begins), we think it’s going to be more accurate, and a better system. We all knew that with just the two races left (last year) it could turn into a crap shoot. With six races there’s more accuracy, but still not a lot of tolerance (for error). I think that’s going to allow everyone to race pretty aggressively, like they do now. I don’t think it will allow a team to come into that last race like we did last year (with a significant points lead).
“We’ll probably just race all out like we usually do, and we didn’t do that here at Pomona last (fall).”
One thing that Pedregon likes about the new system is that after the points are tightened up following the U.S. Nationals even the drivers back in eighth or ninth place might still have a shot at winning it all. “With 10 point increments separating everyone, anyone could win it,” he said. “All it takes are one or two good races, and those cars that are back there in eighth place could really move up. A lot of it will depend on what kind of setup they have for that time of year, and how they run their cars.
“I think the whole thing’s structured better. It’s kind of like football. If you’re hot late in the year, that’s when you really want to peak, and I think the same applies to these cars. If you have a good run at the end of the year and you’re a seventh place car (when it starts) and you can get your combination right, I think this allows for that. It makes it interesting and exciting for other cars to have that opportunity.”
Pedregon admits to being more emotionally relaxed after having won his second championship. “I think I was a basket case emotionally (before he won), but that’s okay. I went through it,” he said, “and given those same circumstances, if I can do it again late in the year I’ll be a little more stable because that was the first time I’d been through that.”
Winning was important to Pedregon because he did it on his own, not as a part of someone else’s team as he was the first time around as a team driver for John Force. This championship was proof positive that he’s matured as a driver, but more importantly, it proved his maturity as a team owner, which had been his goal for many years.
Will Pedregon repeat? It is far too early to even speculate on that scenario – but a third title would cement his reputation as a major player in Funny Car drag racing.
We spoke with Pedregon early Sunday morning, before his on-track incident. Just as he was last year at the Finals here in California, Pedregon appeared calm and certain of his future. Like many others we’ve spoken with, he’s most pleased about the new Countdown program, and is looking forward to the year ahead.
Before the “Big One” in the first round of eliminations.
We spoke with Pedregon early Sunday morning, before his on-track incident. Just as he was last year at the Finals here in California, Pedregon appeared calm and certain of his future. Like many others we’ve spoken with, he’s most pleased about the new Countdown program, and is looking forward to the year ahead.
We asked him if, because of the format change, he would be changing his approach to the championship run.
“Probably,” he said. “You know, with two races to go (last year), we had a good race (winning the AC Delco Nationals in Las Vegas, one week prior to the Finals), where all three of our opponents got beaten in the first round, so really, our strategy was to come to the Finals where we almost got in the mode of trying to protect our lead rather than just go for it. That may have been a mistake. We wouldn’t do that again.
“With six races (after the Countdown begins), we think it’s going to be more accurate, and a better system. We all knew that with just the two races left (last year) it could turn into a crap shoot. With six races there’s more accuracy, but still not a lot of tolerance (for error). I think that’s going to allow everyone to race pretty aggressively, like they do now. I don’t think it will allow a team to come into that last race like we did last year (with a significant points lead).
“We’ll probably just race all out like we usually do, and we didn’t do that here at Pomona last (fall).”
One thing that Pedregon likes about the new system is that after the points are tightened up following the U.S. Nationals even the drivers back in eighth or ninth place might still have a shot at winning it all. “With 10 point increments separating everyone, anyone could win it,” he said. “All it takes are one or two good races, and those cars that are back there in eighth place could really move up. A lot of it will depend on what kind of setup they have for that time of year, and how they run their cars.
“I think the whole thing’s structured better. It’s kind of like football. If you’re hot late in the year, that’s when you really want to peak, and I think the same applies to these cars. If you have a good run at the end of the year and you’re a seventh place car (when it starts) and you can get your combination right, I think this allows for that. It makes it interesting and exciting for other cars to have that opportunity.”
Pedregon admits to being more emotionally relaxed after having won his second championship. “I think I was a basket case emotionally (before he won), but that’s okay. I went through it,” he said, “and given those same circumstances, if I can do it again late in the year I’ll be a little more stable because that was the first time I’d been through that.”
Winning was important to Pedregon because he did it on his own, not as a part of someone else’s team as he was the first time around as a team driver for John Force. This championship was proof positive that he’s matured as a driver, but more importantly, it proved his maturity as a team owner, which had been his goal for many years.
Will Pedregon repeat? It is far too early to even speculate on that scenario – but a third title would cement his reputation as a major player in Funny Car drag racing.
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