[bobcowan]

One other simple advantage to a 9". You can change the gear ratio in less than an hour with simple hand tools. The 9" (and 8") has a removable carrier, and the 8.8" has an integral carrier.

On Firday you drop in the 4.11 gear, because you're racing the drag strip that night. But then you change it to 3.25 for the road course on Sunday.