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NHRA Funny Car racers John Force and JR Todd are fine after their nasty qualifying collision Saturday during the Lucas Oil Winternationals at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California.
Force’s Peak Chevy Camaro spun out of shape in the right lane and after the finish line crossed the center line into Todd’s lane behind him. He went up Todd’s left and then crossed in front of Todd. His parachutes tangled, and Todd was dragged to his right as the Force car slammed into the right side wall.
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“It had been moving,” Force said of his race car. They boy suddenly hit the tires and made a sharp left and hit the wall. This caused a bounce and was found [the track]. I saw JR’s ‘chutes’ and thought he just got the header. I didn’t realize how hard I pushed him into the wall. Sorry. I am OK. That’s all right. The most important. We’re both trying to stay in the show. I don’t think I overdid it. . . but i will have to watch the video. I’m smarter than that. I’m sorry I hit his car.”
Todd said, “I’m madder than anything,” because his Toyota Supra DHL was a brand new car. “The thing is amazing to drive. We’ve really picked up our performance. Now we have to unload the safety car and an old body.”
He said: “I got on the finish line, I take the ‘kicks like I normally do, get on the speed cone,’ the slides hit, and the next thing I know I hear someone on my left side, which is kind of strange, being in the left lane. There’s not much space between the car and the wall.”
The Force team also had to use their safety car.
