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Top-Fuel Racing refers to a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on 85% nitromethane and about 15% methanol also known as racing alcohol, instead of gasoline. The nitromethane used to power the engines of top fuel dragsters costs about US$30 per U.S. gallon (US$8/L).
The engine makes about 3.4 times as much power as a similar displacement engine running gasoline. The engines are producing at least 8,000 horsepower (6 MW).
These cars compete in a 1/4 mile (0.4 km) race and complete it in less than 4.5 seconds at upwards of 330 MPH (530 km/h). While going down the track the motors are running on the verge of hydraulic lock (that is, the air-fuel mixture is compressed so much it is almost a liquid). The spark plug electrodes are completely consumed during a run, but spark ignition is not necessary after the first half of the pass, since the motor is dieseling (igniting the air-fuel mixture without the help of a spark) because of the compression and extremely hot exhaust valves. Top Fuel dragsters are the fastest accelerating vehicles in the world.
Before their run, they do a burn-out (spinning the rear tires in water to heat and clean them before a run for better traction) as long as an 1/8 mile.
After each pass, the whole engine is taken apart and gone through, and much of it is replaced. On average, each run costs about $2,000 - $3,000.
Facts about Top Fuel
Each of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster produces 750 horsepower, equaling the entire horsepower output of a NASCAR engine.
A Top Fuel dragster accelerates from 0 to 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than 0.8 second, almost 11 seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed.
Top Fuel dragsters use between 10 and 12 U.S. gallons (38 to 45 L) of fuel for a complete pass, including the burnout, backup to the starting line, and quarter-mile run.
Top Fuel dragsters can exceed 280 mph (450 km/h) in just 660 feet (0.2 km).
At top engine speed, the exhaust gases escaping from the open headers produce about 800 pounds-force (3.6 kilonewtons) of downforce (although much more downforce is produced by the massive foil sitting over the rear wheels).
NHRA Website (http://www.nhra.com)
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