INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 23, 2018 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The 2012 Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman led all competitors in the class at the Indianapolis Test Session on Wednesday at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals August 29-September 3, and the test session allows teams an opportunity to dial in their respective tune-ups prior to the final regular season race of the NHRA schedule.
Beckman powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T to a pass of 3.908 seconds at 327.35 mph to send him to the top of leader board.
Bob Tasca III was right behind Beckman in his Ford Performance Chevrolet Mustang with a 3.958 at 317.05 as he is still fighting for a top-10 position in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
The current Funny Car points leader Courtney Force drove to a 4.185 at 237.30 as she aims for her first career win at Indianapolis.
“We’re excited to be out here for two days of testing with this Advance Auto Parts team to get ready for the U.S. Nationals,” C. Force said. “This is huge to get this car running more consistently so we are hoping to find the changes we need before getting into race weekend.”
The defending U.S. Nationals event winner J.R. Todd put together a 3.978 run at 308.92 as the former Top Fuel competitor looks for his second straight Indy Funny Car title.
“This is one of our most important test sessions of the year, because we are getting ready for both the U.S. Nationals and the Countdown,” Todd said. “This is the perfect time for us to test the parts and pieces, and make our stuff better and to bring the performance of our car around.”
Eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher and defending world champion Brittany Force are tied atop the Top Fuel class with identical 3.791 passes on the day. Schumacher had the quicker of the two passes at 326.71 mph, while Force clocked in at 324.59. Both drivers are entering the U.S. Nationals with their sights on a second Top Fuel victory this season as they prepare for the Countdown to the Championship.
Testing will resume Thursday morning at 8 a.m. at Lucas Oil Raceway.
About NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Source: National Hot Rod Association
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