Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Rubbin' is racin'?

I only casually keep up with auto racing, but can someone who knows more about the various circuits explain to me what the fascination with NASCAR is? Apparently, yet another Formula 1 driver is making the transition to stock car racing. So instead of driving around in something that looks as quick and sleek as this:


he will instead be driving one of these boring cars:

That's like picking a Chevy Monte Carlo over a Lamborghini Diablo. It's like comparing a mule to a throroughbred. I guess there's more chances of deadly crashes in NASCAR, but am I missing something else? Heck, it would seem like even Indy car racing would be more interesting than stock cars. Same risk of catastrophic collisions, but at even faster speeds.

I know the F1 circuit is devoid of any real American stars. Is that the reason? Will NASCAR continue to be as popular if international drivers like Montoya and Villeneuve begin to do well?

3 comments:

Dutch said...

My guess would be that money is the impetus for the migration. NASCAR is popular and marketed out the whazoo. Some of those European drivers might be seeing all the buttloads of cash the NASCAR drivers get from endorsements and figure they want in on it too.

Fandango6 said...

the Montoya jump is an attempt to bring the spanish/south america audience into nascar.
i am frankly appalled. i can't stand nascar, i've been in love with F1, having gone to 2 races at Indy in the last 6 years.

F1 cars run at higher rpms, but overall have slower avg speeds b/c of all the turns.
the cars are much bigger than Indy cars, and ride like they are on rails.

i could go on and on... This is Michael Schumacher's final season with ferrari, he and fernando alsonso are tied going into the last 2 races this month.

up next (this sunday) - Suzuka in Japan. (remember Pole Position??)
great, i can just hear wild willie saying "i'll show you pole position..."

Swany said...

So what's this Villeneuve rumour about? Is NASCAR hurting for a Canadian presence in their fanbase? As much as I hate to say it, I'm not sure NASCAR will be as popular here in the States if it gains a more internationally diverse flavor. If someone could convince me the essence of stock car racing is more intriguing than F1, I might change my mind. Otherwise, about the only thing I can see that interests it's fanbase is that NASCAR is a purely American-driven sport.