Northwest Auto Racing
Notebook: Rule changes don't faze Top Fuel's Schumacher

By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times

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KENT — Nobody likes to see the rules changed in the middle of a game, especially the team that happens to be on top.

But Tony Schumacher, who leads the Top Fuel race with 1,021 points, said he really didn't mind some recent and substantial rule changes.

The changes, which came in the wake of the death of driver Darrell Russell on June 27, include a new rear tire and a fuel mixture that has been reduced from 90 percent to 85 percent nitromethane.

"The changes weren't made because the NHRA wanted to make them; they were made because we lost a great driver and a great friend of mine," Schumacher said. "When you lose one of the shining stars in your sport, you have to take a hard look at it."

Schumacher, who won the Top Fuel points championship in 1999 and was second in 2000, said he has adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

"Nobody knows what will happen with all these rule chances," Schumacher said, "but they knew they had to do something. I don't really think it will hurt us that much."

Besides, Schumacher wondered, how much horsepower do they really need?

"Last year my car literally broke in half," Schumacher said. "Am I afraid? No, but I want to make sure that when I get in a car it's a calculated risk and not a stupid risk."

In fact, the changes make the driver from Long Grove, Ill., even more confident because he describes his crew as the best in the world.
 
"I don't think there's a change in the world my crew couldn't handle, and they give me an advantage every week," Schumacher said. "Each one of them wants to win more than the next. Most teams have a weak link. We don't have one."

Right at home

Funny Car driver Ron Capps has had a forgettable year. He sits in 14th place in the standings, but just being back in Seattle has made him downright optimistic.

"This track, from the very first year I came here in my rookie year, has been good for me," Capps said.

In 1995, Capps got his first career victory at Pacific Raceways.

"Everything about this place makes me feel good," Capps said. "Everybody used to complain about the track, but not me. This is a weekend I legitimately think I'm going to win the race."

Capps also won a Funny Car title here in 1998 and is the only driver to win in both classes at Pacific Raceways.

Capps said his difficulties this year are hard to explain.

"It shows you that no matter how hard you work or how much money you spend, it doesn't guarantee you'll win," Capps said. "We have the best equipment money can buy and the biggest name in the sport in (team owner) Don Prudhomme, and here we are getting beat by some of these low-budget guys."

Tough road ahead

Team owner Don Schumacher, the first man to own teams in all four pro classes, thinks that because of the rules changes, this is going to be a tough weekend for all the teams.

"It's a whole new deal," he said. "This is a sport built on performance and power and these crew chiefs will find a way around it. But it really was a double whammy."

Schumacher has no doubt that it won't take long to get the horsepower back lost by the reduction of nitromethane.

"Class is still out on the changes," he said. "... We're all looking for how to keep these cars safe and how to keep the performance up and having a good show for the fans."