[mamelukesabre]

That all makes sense. But what I don’t understand then is this...internal combustion engines that most closely resemble the power output characteristics of electric motors should also see these same advantages. That means that diesel motors should reign supreme in a drag race. THEY DON’T.

The next closest thing to electric motors would be large displacement-small number of cylinder engines of old fashioned design. For instance, the old “johnny poppers” of john deere tractors from 75 years ago. Or...harley davidson motors. Or...WWII vintage radial aircraft engines. These are all engines designed with the very same advantages you are touting in electric motors.

The only thing I can think of is the strength of the shafts in High RPM situations is much less. Nothing snaps shafts and breaks gears faster than low RPM torque. Heavier drivetrains means slower acceleration...in two ways. The vehicle weighs more, so it accelerates down the strip slower, but also, the rotational inertia is greater, which drags down the motor when trying to “spin up” to speed.

[org.whodat]

Today’s pro-stock cars shifts gears around 9500 to 10,000 rpm. And a top fuel hemi runs around 5,800 to 6,500 Rpm, direct drive forward reverse transmission.

Drag bike turns about 12000 rpm.