NHRA Warren Johnson Qualifying Wrap Up: WJ Will Start 10th in Columbus

 WJ Will Start 10th in Columbus

 

Event:  42nd Annual Pontiac Performance Nationals

Day/Date: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Location:  National Trail Raceway, Columbus, Ohio

 

On the strength of a 6.706-second, 205.88 mph pass recorded on
Saturday's afternoon, Warren Johnson qualified his GM Performance Parts
GTO in the 10th position for Sunday's final eliminations of the Pontiac
Performance Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.  

 

Although Johnson bettered his time in each of the first three qualifying
sessions, issues with the track's timing system, which resulted in one
competitor's time being disallowed and reinstated as well as several
others being scrutinized, placed some question in his mind as to the
validity of the tuning data.

 

 "Unfortunately, it's difficult to discuss performance due to the
repeated issues we saw with the timing system.   We'd like to say we
improved on every run, but we really have nothing to measure it by.
This extra variable presents additional challenges as we head into
eliminations, as there is also a distinct difference between the lanes,
with the one side looking more like a Tic-Tac-Toe board than a race
track.

 

"In any case, our preparations for race day will remain the same.
Hopefully, the NHRA officials will work on the timing system tonight to
resolve whatever problems it has, and we will do whatever we can to
overcome the lack of lane choice in the first round.  We believe our GM
Performance Parts GTO is headed in the right direction, and we'll fight
to overcome whatever they throw at us."