you need both to go fast. without torque, you can't accelerate. without hp you can't go fast. infinite torque and little HP can accelerate to a low speed (big rig). infinite HP with little torque will accelerate slow as hell but will get to a high speed with enough time and space (indy car, that's why they get a push from the pit crew -- no torque until the motor is moving at insane rpms).

 

I beg to differ, as 4600cc explained, hp is a function of torque. You can have a car with 200 ft lbs and 1000 hp, the 1000 hp means you're going to put that 200 ft lbs of torque to better use than if you had an engine producing 200 ft lbs and 200 hp.