More power to the SRT8, but it in all fairness it sounds like you started out lined up in tandem (i.e. him behind you) which makes it very hard to get a fair start.
He was already at a severe disadvantage going up against an SRT8... The additional burden of having to start directly behind you could very well have accounted for several of those 12-15 car lengths.
I am sure he was at least slightly humbled nonetheless.
