Racing with Automatics

[blueorb]

I have only had my SS for about 3 weeks so my driving skills aren't exactly what you would call spectacular.
When racing with automatics from a dead stop what is the best/preferred way to jump off the line? Do you start from 1st and shift to 2nd and then D based on your tac? Is there a pro/con to using 1st instead of 2nd or vice versa? How about from a roll? I have found that dropping to normal D (I guess that is overdrive?? There are 2 D's) gives a nice bump. Should I go all the way down to 2nd?
Sorry, one more question. You see a lot of people say that these LS1 engines "enjoy" the hard driving. Is that true? Is it correct to assume that as long as I stay below the red line that I am not doing my engine any harm?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long winded post.

[The Old Man]

Leave it in D... Don't manual shift the car.

[MoffZ28]

Place it in D and press on the brakes and the accelerator pedal at the same time until you are almost spinning the rears. Just before the bottom light let off of the brake and hammer down on the accelerator pedal. By the time you get moving you will have a .6-.5 reaction time, it takes practice.

[FrankZ28]

By the time you get moving you will have a .6-.5 reaction time, <-- Does that mean you`re 0-60 time should be a little faster? If so how much faster? like 4.something?

[justinakajuice]

Great question blue! I'd like to know myself!

[blueorb]

So, just leave it in D huh? Well, that's what I will do then.
Thanks for the input

[Apachedrill]

It wont change your 60 ft times just you reaction, also try it both ways. Try stalling it like discuseed and just try launching it out of the hole without stalling it. Depending on how your car hooks up, one may be better then the other. Try it out and just practice.. If your at a track also figure out what works as far as heating your tires, long burnout, short burn out or scuff them. When you have that down then play with your tire pressure. Sorry to get off track but take this all into consideration. Hope that helps and when get it all 3 down, your reaction and 60 ft times will both come down.

[mr._bowtie]

My 00 Z had a auto and it was actually faster if I just flat footed it rather then stalling it up. Like Apache said, just try them both and see what works the best for you.