http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ8pUwin9co
That's because of the 2-step drag race ignition system. In the current issue of Hot Rod magazine, Mike Moran goes into detail about it. It dumps all the timing advance and adds extra fuel. Some of the fuel ignites before it gets into the engine, speeding up the turbo to have more boost off the line. He says that he tried earplugs, but that didn't help much, because you feel it more than hear it. He said it's "like a gatling gun firing atom bombs" Video of ignition test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyd9O4mHYfc There's also a link to an Aussie inline-6 drag car doing the same thing
I think you have it slightly reversed. The way you stated it--fuel igniting before it gets into the engine--would blow the manifold off the block every time. When he retards (or dumps the advance, same thing) the ignition timing a ton, it allows a greater portion of the combustion event to occur later in the power stroke and even up into the exhaust stroke, allowing a greater portion of combustion energy to spin up the turbine wheel rather than all that energy being applied to the piston. Since the explosion is occurring while the exhaust valve is open, that's why it is so loud and percussive. This kind of anti-lag will destroy turbos, valves, and pistons in no time flat if it isn't tuned very precisely. But since these guys only need them to anti-lag for half a second and then last for 6 seconds after that, hey, no big deal to rebuild your turbos every week. Also, the car in the video posted here is not Moran's Monte Carlo. His turbos are mounted low and back to improve weight transfer, instead of mounted up high like the car in this video. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Moran had a hand in building this machine. Honestly, the technology and innovation in these top-level drag racers is just as impressive as Formula 1 teams. BTW, this is also rather wicked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buW-WIaamv4&feature=related
