[cobrashoch]

Ernie - You really hit on something with your response. It is true that 300 honest horsepower will take a 2200lbs car to the mid 11's if it is set up right. The point being of course, there is large confusion over power and controled power. That said there are two other factors not typically mentioned however. The first is, if 300 horsepower is needed to go mid 11's, then all things being even, over twice that horsepower number is needed to push that same car one second faster. Then twice again to to go 1/2 second faster still. Point still is, horsepower be damned; setup is everything.
The other point not typically discussed in the horsepower wars is an engines ability to rev up quickly under load. A diesel engine will not run the same as a formula engine in the same car, even though both engine produce exactly the same horsepower. There are sound reasons why certain engine designs die out, both in production and in race cars.
Ron Shockley