30 UNDER 30
“ I RACED BRAINERD AND HE( JOHAN) RACED IN GERMANY, AND WE WON ON THE SAME DAY JUST A COUPLE HOURS APART. THAT WAS REALLY COOL.”
30 UNDER 30
SWEDISH INVASION
Jonnie Lindberg is Top Alcohol Funny Car’ s true world champion By Nate Van Wagnen
PHOTO: JOE McHUGH
‘ I guess
I’ m just hard-headed,” Jonnie Lindberg says as he tries to explain how he’ s managed to take the NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car class by storm since arriving on the scene in 2014. In just three seasons, the 27-year-old Swedish driver has shattered the elapsed time world record, won six national events and two regional races, and claimed the two most recent national championships. As if that wasn’ t enough, he’ s also mixed in a few Pro Mod tuning gigs on both continents.
Lindberg came to the United States as the 2013 FIA Top Methanol Funny Car champion, dead-set on proving himself in fierce NHRA competition after recording some near-world record performances in Europe. He was only getting warmed up when he went to nine races and one final round in 2014, then began his championship chase in 2015 after winning the season-opening Winternationals and Four-Wide Nationals, where he also became the first driver in class history to dip into the 5.3-second zone at over 270 mph. Running in conditions eerily similar to
“ I RACED BRAINERD AND HE( JOHAN) RACED IN GERMANY, AND WE WON ON THE SAME DAY JUST A COUPLE HOURS APART. THAT WAS REALLY COOL.”
the weather and track surfaces he was accustomed to in Europe, Lindberg drove his former Frank Manzo Monte Carlo to a 5.47 at 270.10 mph, then rotated the earth with a mind-numbing 5.361 at 272.01 mph.
“ I did so good back home in Europe – went 5.42 at 268 mph – so that was one of the reasons to come over here. I wanted to prove that I was that good. Last year we learned a lot. We struggled with the track conditions and started learning a lot. I did my homework during the winter and it seems to pay off,” Lindberg posited at the time of the record performances. The speed record has since been reset as the Top Alcohol Funny Car speed numbers have been improving with their nitro counterparts, but the elapsed time mark has yet to be touched by another NHRA-legal alcohol flopper.
With the world records and a pair of Wallys in hand, Lindberg made a serious run at the 2015 NHRA Lucas Oil Series national championship, flying back and forth from Sweden to do battle with class frontrunners like John Lombardo Jr., Annie Whiteley, and Doug Gordon.“ At one point I think I did five weekends in
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