They presented a new concept to our tech department over the winter,” said Light. “It was a shroud over the roll cage. Their intent was to shield the driver from fire coming into the ****pit. The whole concept was for that reason. The windshield … the canopy on the top. It was supposedly a safety innovation to help prevent fire from coming into the ****pit. Based on that intent, the NHRA tech department legalized it.
The news his team’s off-season research and development was now illegal was met with strong objection from Don Schumacher, who left the track early in the day, claiming he was thoroughly disgusted with the way the NHRA had handled the situation.
