just a guess
I am thinking the overdrive would take more HP. Based on roatational energy and friction. Just for discussion. The drive shaft turns 2 times to get the wheels to turn one. 2 to 1 ratio. Lets say that it takes 4 rotation to turn the tires once, 4 to 1. Put an over drive on the 4 to 1 to make it a 2 to 1 and the drive shaft will need to spin 2 times faster or 8 times to equal the ratio along with the gears. More heat, friction, mechanical loss from the multiplication of the overdrive.
Just my guess.
NASCAR guys are running a 1:1 final drive.
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