Wouldn't it be the other way around, or does it take off faster in 2nd by some strange reason only GM understands ?
Yes a V8 auto does take off faster in second because it doesn’t spin and definitely
goes faster, but the riddle depends on the specific measured definition of take-off.
0-100 is same in my car with 2.92 diff gear set first gear (1G) or second gear (2G) take off:
1.0 seconds: 1G gets the jump and wheels let the smoke out, 2G smooth same speed. A human gets off the line faster.
1.5 seconds: same situation, 1G overtakes at 3kph. Overall going about speed of human sprinting (human still in lead).
2.0 seconds: 1G is 1m ahead doing 50kph *human shakes fist*
2.5 seconds: 1G still 1m ahead doing 60.
3.0 seconds: 1G is 2m ahead both doing 70
1G changed gear now both in same gear.
3.5 seconds: It’s a tie, 1G doing 73, 2G doing 83.
4.0 seconds: 2G is 1m ahead doing 95 vs 1G doing 85.
4.27 seconds: 2G is 1m ahead when it hits 100 vs 1G doing 90, takes another 1/2 second to 100.
Lesson learned is that the first three seconds takeoff is better in second, play it cool in one gear to highway speed, versus revving like a ricer letting smoke out spinning tyres slamming shift into second.
That is unless you are on slicks on a prepped drag track, in which case the tables are turned exactly opposite.