The Lucas Oils backed ride of Andy Carter was on a mission in qualifying, resetting the European ET record he set at Mantorp with a 4.703/270 backed up by a 4.645/296; the latter equalling the 4.645/317 quickest ever pass by Kim Reymond in 2003, tuned by Per and Karsten Andersen who just happen to be the owners of Carter’s current mount. With the early shutoffs promising some more of the same on raceday and a potential title charge to get around Lex Joon’s points lead, the sight of the pipes going wet at half track thanks to a tossed belt would have disappointed the Anglo-Swedane team. The sound of opponent Stig Neergaard getting back on the loud pedal compounded the woe and when the winlight came on in Neergaard’s lane (after getting to the finishline less than three feet ahead of Carter) that was it as far as title aspirations.
Showing there is some life in the old dog yet, Swedish veteran Joran Persaker cracked off his first four second pass to qualify 5th with a 4.964/281 from the Persaker Speedshop entry. Tuned by Peter Lantz and Morgan Svensson just over a decade to the day after the dynamic duo put Kent Persson first into the European four second club, Persaker had to back pedal after a launch wheelie threatened to get big in the first round handing the semifinal spot to Tommi Haapanen when the 60 foot incrementals were suggesting something a little better.
FIA Top Fuel Qualifying and Results
1) Andy Carter 4.645/296.39 1 rd
2) Urs Erbacher 4.7629/300.53 winner
3) Thomas Nataas 4.7831/311.79 semi-finals
4) Tommi Haapanen 4.8379/298.15 semi-finals
5) Joran Persaker 4.9641/281.43 1 rd
6) Lex Joon 4.9942/251.40 1 rd
7) Micke Kagered 5.3992/223.85 1 rd
8) Stig Neergaard 5.5039/224.13 runner up
9) Janne Ahonen 5.5652/197.30
Top Speed Lex Joon 312.41 mph / Low Et Andy Carter 4.645