Tom, that is a continuation of the Steve Taylor "Pink Light" rule discussion that has been going on for years. I have to say though, that I have never agreed with the faster car getting a free pass just because the first car to leave redlit However, I guess that if I was that troubled by it I would either build a faster car or quit, wouldn't I?
One thing I have seen on the Compulink system out at RT66 is in a case where the cars are dialed very close to each other, the slower dialed car will always be disqualified on a double red. Lee Kapustka was dialed 11:33 and his opponent was dialed 11:32. We actually saw the other guy's redlight come on first and the timecard proved it. He had a .430 to Lee's .488 meaning he had actually left .048 before Lee. Lee went to the tower and complained, but it was explained that since he was dialed slower the computer automatically picked him for the DQ. That is definitely not fair.
Bottom line for me is that I would love to see the redlight rule become a true "First or Worst", but I really don't see it ever happening because the guys with the faster cars will whine about it the most.
