Top Fuel racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol (also known as racing alcohol) rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing vehicles. However, top fuel dragsters are much longer, much narrower, and are equipped with large tires on the back and small tires in front, all in order to maximize their straight-line acceleration and speed.
Top fuel dragsters are the fastest sanctioned category of drag racers, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 330 MPH (531 KPH) and finishing the 1,000 foot (305m) runs in less than 3.8 seconds.
Because of the speeds, this class almost exclusively races to only the 1,000 foot (305m) distance, and not the traditional 1/4 mile (1,320 foot / 402m). A 2008 rule change by the National Hot Rod Association following the fatal crash of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta during qualifying at the SuperNationals, held at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, that June led to the distance change. The shortening of the distance was used in the FIA at some tracks, and for 2012 is now the standard Top Fuel distance. ANDRA also switched to 1,000 foot racing in 2012 at Adelaide and is expected also to switch full-time to the distance for Top Fuel for the 2012-13 season.
A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 MPH (160 km/h) in as little as 0.7 seconds (less than one fifth the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 MPH or (96.5 km/h)and can exceed 280 MPH (450 km/h) in just 660 ft (201 m). This acceleration subjects the driver to an average force of about 4.0 G over the duration of the race.
Read more about Top Fuel: Facts About Top Fuel, The Fuel, Mandatory Safety Equipment
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