[petek]

Hmmm... we're talking about a rate of change. The greater the rate of change, the greater the horsepower.

So, let's say that the frictional losses are equal at a steady state rpm, no matter what the horsepower. Now change the rpm. Let's say from 1000 to 5000. The higher hp engine generates a faster rate of change than the lower hp engine. But both encounter the same amount of friction ... only over different periods of time, the high hp engine doing it's work to overcome the friction over a much shorter period of time.

I've a feeling that it's the shorter period of time that would show up as an increase in frictional losses. Just a guess.