I don't see how this is possible and think about it in relationship to other major racing series.  During F1 Malaysia qualifing Saturday, Kimi Raikkenon (spelling?) broke Juan Pablo Montoya's one lap record (2004) of 1/34.2 with a 1.34.1.  David Hobbs, the color announcer said what makes it very unusual is that F1 made drastic engine size reductions in 2004, so cars have 300 less hp, approx 1000 then, and 700 now.  Don't know if I believe technology in brakes, downforce, whatever, could allow the cars to get that much faster in 3 years.  Maybe they shortened the track. 

 

 

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I'll take mine with four tires and a motor please.

Where was this stock car race today?

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Chuck

And add to that the elimination of electronic driver aids.  Don't know.  I do know the race was a dissapointment conpared to Australia. 

Rain sure would have helped.

On the other hand - After Massa's stunt on the start, I got a touch of enjoyment from his mid-race departure.  I think he has a bit of an inferiority complex.  May have good reason.

Isn't the gravity lower in Australia?:P

electronic driver aids, thats traction control I suppose you are talking about.  There has to be more here than we've been told.  A 300 horsepower reduction and then to outlaw traction control and they break track records a few years later. 

I know the IRL or Champ car or both reduced engine size a few years ago to something like 2.5 liters.  That also was a big horsepower loss.  think I heard something like 200. 

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"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury". Tax takers will then outnumber tax payers.

My guess is that the elimination of traction control led to the faster lap. When TC kicks in it reduces the RPMs and can hinder accelleration. If Kimi was able to keep the revs high in sections of the track where the TC would have kicked on in the past that may have aloud him to have greater acceleration off the corners.

We're also only talking about a 1/10 of a second. How does the time compare to the last three years? Maybe this is as shocking as it seems at first blush.