Does torque matter from a roll?

Question

I have a 98 ls1 trans am, but I'm supposed to be racing a 200 whp crx that weighs almost exactly 1/2 of my car's weight right at 1727 lbs, while my car is 3450 (this is all curb weight estimates by the way). My car was dyno'd right at 351whp. Power/weight it seems like he'd win, because he has roughly the same gears as me, and he won't have to worry about his turbo lag because it's from a roll. In all statistics it seems like he'd win...but there's that little thing Hondas dont have...torque. But will all the torque my t/a is making help me from a roll? Thanks.

Answer 1

to a degree, yes.

tq = getting started

hp= keep going

when you punch the pedal, the tq will allow you to accelerate, to, if i understand correctly, about half of each gear, when the hp kicks .in.  

if i am wrong, or over simplified, someone feel free to correct me, and if i am REALLY wrong, then go ahead and flame me.  i can take it.