Different lanes, different times

[hobbytalk]

I happened to be looking over the times from the Feb. WIRL race (couldn't find the videos yet). I noticed when my car was run on the center lane (yellow) it was almost 0.2 seconds slower then when run in the left or right lanes.

Heat 4 - Blue - 3.1428
Heat 6 - Yellow - 3.3211
Heat 9 - Yellow - 3.3236
Heat 11 - Red - 3.1022
Heat 13 - Blue - 3.1182
Heat 17 - Red - 3.1142

When in the left and right lanes it was not that far out of the ballpark but the center lane runs just killed it for final results. Anyone have any idea why this would be?

[Da Pine Racing]

I see what you mean Hobbytalk.
I had this same thing happen in pro stock last season in the red lane. The videos showed the car running straight. I think I remember Steve & Jennifer holding up the race for a second to check the track and it was perfect. There was no clear reason as to why it ran that way when some of the other cars had their fastest times in the red lane. I checked lube & alignment before the next race, don't remember if I changed anything and it was more consistent the next month.

I don't believe there are any two lanes in the entire world that are identical and I think there was just something about the way my car was set up that day that the red lane didn't like.

Congrats on you first race and just keep tuning & trying different set-ups

[Smokinjoesracing]

For a few years now I have theorized a vibration wave much like the wake on a boat. No studies have been done but it seems to be more than a coincidence.
This is why we always like to sign up late at a race. The eager beavers get there first and run against each other. They usually have the faster cars too. As a result Joe usually runs out in front and has a killer 1st heat time.