Toyota: Congrats... With some of the most powerful V8's in the public car mrket, we knew it was bound to happen at some point. (Yes, I know the engines aren't the same).

NASCAR: Well, I've never been to a NASCAR race, but I did enjoy skybox seats at an IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway a few years back. I didn't think I'd enjoy watching cars go in a circle for 2.5 hours either. But, (in the skybox at least), we actually had headsets, and we could listen to the driver and his crew-chief interact (passing-passing-passing-you're clear) while they're racing... IRL and NASCAR are a lot alike (to me) with the exception that IRL cars are much quicker. But, they don't look like anything you can buy at a dealership, so that's why I like NASCAR more.

Formula One: Years ago, this was boring as Hell to me. A race where you can rarely go wide open throttle. I didn't appreciate it back then. But, now, realizing the skill and endurance it would take to win a race like that. Left turns, right turns, accellerate, brake, upshift, downshift. It is a lot more involved, and a lot easier to either A.) Give up, or B.) Make a mistake, get passed, and never recover.

So, yes- I'd say F1 requires a lot more from a driver than IRL or NASCAR does. I hate to say it, because I still can't watch an F1 race (It's still kinda boring)- but there's no denying which one is more intense, or which one requires the better driver.

I met Scott Goodyear in the Pit back in 2000... Man, there were nothing but hotties (Cowboys Cheerleader material) down there, and two or three of them were hanging off Scott like christmas ornaments.

 

There were more passes for the lead at the 2000 fall Talladega race than in an entire F1 season.

I laugh when the announcers go nuts over an 7 second pit stop.

1. Decision is made to pit

2. Thirteen (that's right 13) men go over the wall and take their position in the pit box (2 at each wheel, 1 in front with a "jack", 2 to handle the gas, 1 for the rear "jack") and one to hold the cute little STOP GO sign for the driver (colour coded in case of a language issue I suppose)

3. The driver enters the pit box and stops on his marks. Fuel fill hose is inserted.

4. Each of the FOUR men holding one of FOUR air guns removes THE nut securing the tire directly in front of them while the front and rear jackMEN slip their little dollies under the front and back of their LITTLE car and tip them back to lift it.

5. Each of the FOUR men standing beside the FOUR men holding one of FOUR air guns and ONE nut grabs the old tire off of it's SINGLE stud and replaces it with a new one and sets the old one down beside him to watch as his job is done now.

6. Each of the FOUR men holding one of FOUR air guns and ONE nut tightens THE nut.

7. By this time the PRESSURIZED fuel delivery system is done and the hose is removed.

8. The car is dropped, everyone steps back one pace and the sign is politely flipped from STOP to GO

F1
13 men
4 nuts
4 tires
4 guns
2 jacks
11 seconds
STOP
Event

NASCAR
7 men
20 nuts
4 tires
2 guns
1 jack
12.8 seconds
GO
RACE

 

I'm all for competition, Formula 1 is amung my favorite racing and is filled with all kinds of foreign makes. Why am I so against Toyota in NASCAR? It's just more salt in the wound that a jap company is trying to blanket the world in it's jap flag. Horrayy Camry for winning a race and making more sales on Monday, putting the American auto industry further behind, ya, I'll support that It sells cars, and don't give me this "everybody has to think globally crap", it's a trade imbalance with alot of brainwashing to go with it.

It just reminds people who care what is becoming of the country, most people have no ties to the auto industry so a cars a car. Besides, all the h-mo's of NASCAR drive Toyota's anyways. Ned Jarrett should be disgusted with his son, maybe that's why he is retiring. I think he regrets going Toyota, he was way better with Yates/Ford.

 

f1 blows. I recall it being on last summer, and im goign to have my eye looking for it again. Last summer on NBC, same time as the nascar races were one, had offroad truck racing. OFC the trucks were nothing like their real counterparts, just body pieces and stickers, but it was still awesome. they go through huge jumps on a circuit with mud water dirt, sharp turns, drifting, it's great. I cant remeber what the series was called but it was great. Some motox guys were doin it.

 

Comparing a 150k dollar vehicle to a 4 million dollar vehicle. Pretty incredible aint it.

Nascar: 0-60 in 4-5 seconds
F1: 0-100 in 2.3, 0-180 in 7.1

 

Well, maybe you shoulg go there and be an F1 fan. J/K

 

To say now a days that winning on Sunday sells on Monday is laughable. How do you explain the Camary and Accord being best sellers way before Toyota even thought of jumping into NASCAR? Honda isn't even in NASCAR! And I highly doubt that Toyota's success in the Truck series helped them sell a considerable amount of Tundra's.

You have "thought globally" already. Unless you don't own a TV or even the very computer you are on to be a member here.

And if you think things are bad now, just imagine if the US started severing ties with other countries becuase of "trade imbalance". And the US isn't innocent of this either. ( oh, and I'm not ragging on the US, they are the best neighbors in the world to have )

So then people shouldn't have the freedom of choice when buying something that they believe is the best for their money?

 

50 cars each weekend trying to get into 1 race instead of 12.

4 of which are actually competitive...... (F1)

 

Performance is measured by laps... not straight line times.
I doubt that the 13 F1 crewmen could do what 7 stock car crewmen do. I mean, they almost outnumber them 2:1 and only beat the pit time by ~1.8s. That's pathetic!

I agree that F1 cars are amazing pieces of machinery and F1 drivers obviously have talent and courage. The speed will take your breath away even on TV and the 'whine' of the cars is nothing else you have ever heard at a track, but these are not enough to make a good race and it does not make the drivers/teams superior in any way to the drivers/teams of stock car racing. I watch many F1 events and every time a race breaks out in the middle of one I enjoy it, but too many of them are won by the polesitter and too many passes for position are due to pit stops.

Sorry, I'll stick to my 43 cars, going upwards of 200mph within feet of each other (3wide) around an oval/circle for 3-4hrs in 100+* temps over the overpriced 19k rpm engines which only last 2-3hrs before literally tearing themselves apart...

 

But then ask yourself, with speed limiters and limiting plates, is it really legitimate racing? Theres a reason the pack is so close.

Lets take your 7 sctockcar crewmen and have them attempt a pit change on an F1 vehicle. They will probably look at you like you're stupid. Again, more sophisticated vehicle, more people/better perfection needed in the pits.

Nascar drivers often bump each other in order to pass or throw off their opponent. In F1, ANY touching of the vehicles and it's a wreck, making passing a LOT harder, especially given the tracks they run (compared to the giant ovals).

We can go back and forth all day, but in the end they are different. Some like one, some like the other. Its all opinionated.

 

Yeah, but F1 is foreign. This is the USA.

 

I think it just depends on where your from, I know down here its NASCAR all day

 

If the open wheel cars/series is so awesome, then how come their drivers are a flocking to NASCAR?......HHHmmmmm.......

 

Come on guys, it's all racing, just different leagues not that big of a deal. While I live close to Indy I never did make it to an F1 race but wish I would have just to see them once. The technology of those cars are pretty impressive.

I have made it to the Indy 500 for about the last 8 years straight and for a about 5 brickyard 400's. Although the race is usually more exciting for the brickyard race they are both very enjoyable. I love the exhaust smell of the Indy cars, the loudness, and the speed. I remember the first time I saw the Nascars on the track i thought hmmm. they are pretty quiet, not the same aroma, and is that all faster they go But the racing is more entertaining watching the Nascar boys. I hope the Indy series gets better since they have reunited with CART finally.

Also one thing that I've notice camping out at Indy is the weekend party for the Indy car race is much more rowdy and exciting than the Nascar series. The only thing I can think of is that Nascar fans don't want to be hung over while watching the race and the Indy car fans really don't give a crap.

BTW way I'm going to Bristol this weekend, a friend gave me a ticket for both races. I cannot wait is should be a great time watching them banging "doors"

 

You haven't gone to right races for the rowdiness. Go to Talladega. It is non-stop all weekend. There are people partying and riding around 24 hours a day all weekend. I'll be one of them at Talladega in a few weeks. Party from Thursday morning till they kick us out Monday at noon.

Have fun at Bristol. Never been able to go. Yet. I'm jealous.