According to Microsoft's tests (take those with a grain of salt), IE8 loads Google faster than Google Chrome does, Chrome loads MSN.com faster than IE8, IE8 loads mozilla.com faster than Firefox, and Firefox loads microsoft.com faster than IE8. IE8 also loads Apple's site faster than either of the other two, but Safari wasn't used in the testing.
__________________ Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- Proverbs 30:5-6
Interweb Explorer has always been the slowest for me in opening tabs, closing tabs, and just about anything really. The fact that it has a fail rendering engine doesn't help the problem.