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Originally Posted by SaMaster14
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It's a concept that has been around for a while now. Top Fuel dragsters have not used a transmission for years now.
A five-disc dry clutch is the only link between the engine and the locked rear end—there's no transmission. "The clutch is the lifeline of the car," Oberhofer says, because it regulates wheelspin by gradually engaging and slipping as the car moves down the track. A hydraulically motivated throw-out bearing operates off a simple timer (computer controls are illegal). The clutch is tuned according to track conditions. If it engages too quickly, the tires will spin, but if it's too lazy, the car won't accelerate as fast as possible. The discs get so hot that at least two of them are welded together by the run's end.