bringing the conversation to the original question...........................
here is a few tips for ya that I learned from experience:
1. turn off as many accesories as you can, radio, heater, a/c, etc.
2. mash the brake pedal as far as it goes and hold it there while holding the gas pedal to just above the RPM's where your engine gets its peak torque (that info can be found on websites)
3. when the light turns green, release the brakes as fast as possible, and mash that gas pedal to the floor!
there is something I noticed in my first gen 3.5, because of the torque, if I dont follow the above technique and just nail the gas pedal as soon as the light turns green, (on the strip of course), I just get massive wheelspin
GOOD LUCK !!!