I'll take that bet. Every turbo car I know of that has compared has found the 3.54 to be faster in the 1/4. You just don't have time to build boost with a 3.90 in first gear. (or possibly even second)
OK, I still believe you need alot of gear to get the car out of hole on manual turbo car. And I never had a problem with the car not spooling in 1st gear with 3.90, 11lb flywheel, and small crank pulley.