After watching part of the Indy 500 today, I think I can see why NASCAR has surpassed Indy cars in popularity. It seemed there were very few American born drivers running at Indy. Not to sound elitest, but I can see why NASCAR has blown up as the most popular racing series in the US.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I have been to the Indy 500 two years ago and time trials for several years. I also attended time trials for the NASCAR Brickyard a few years ago. Have never been to an actual NASCAR race.

I have always preferred open wheel racing (Indy) to NASCAR primarily because of the increased speed of the cars. I don't mind the international influence but not sure to the point of today's race where only half the drivers were American.

I prefer NASCAR b/c they have done a better job of making the sport popular among people that I associate with. I can't name an IRL drivers other than Ms. Patrick. NASCAR guys are like guys I have known growing up. It just seems more American and less International. I prefer that and so do most of the people I know. I think if more International drivers start dominating NASCAR, it will lose popularity.

Yup NASCAR is more American. But I think as far as auto racing goes - it is a ridiculous spectacle.

I honestly don't care where the drivers come from. And please don't tell me the cars are relevent. Just because they say Ford or Chevy they have nothing to do with what is on the road.

I want auto racing that blends driver skill and automotive engineering. Racing on ovals with cars faked to look like American sedans has no interest to me.

I've been going to Indy since 1995 and I just got back today from taking my daughter to her first 500. There is a reason why they call it 'The Greatest Spectacle In Racing.' The tradition, the history, and the atmosphere make it simply incredible.

I have tried to get into NASCAR, but their style of racing (swaping paint, etc.) just doesn't do it for me. If any of you can make it in two weeks, do yourself a favor and try to go to TMS (Texas Motor Speedway) in north Ft. Worth for the Bombardier 500. Those guys (and ladies of course-Danica, Milka) put on one heck of a show. Instead of 'follow the leader,' you'll see real racing at 220+ mph. Incredible.

I don't discredit the type of racing at all. I think it is very exciting to watch. I'm just saying that the influx of foreign born drivers seems to have made NASCAR the more popular racing series.

I enjoy the side by side racing and off the track stuff with Nascar. If you follow it for a while it becomes a bit of a soap opera. You understand who hates who and why and get to see them take out their frustrations with each other on the track. The drivers get to show their human side and that brings out the passion in the fans.

Indy is exciting because it's fast but to me there's not much racing going on.

Tom

What killed Indy Car was the split between Cart Series and Indy Car, it destroyed Open Wheeled racing in America. With two similar leagues competing there was no major sponsorship money or tv deals. So all the american drivers switched leagues and went Nascar.

In Europe they have Formula 1 and other open wheeled racing that is very popular which allows many foreigners the opportunity to drive open wheel at lower levels and learn. Those opportunities are not here in the states.

I prefer NASCAR because of the drivers and the competition. The cars are irrelevant to me. I don't much care how much difference there is between the race cars and production cars of the same name. I pretty much overlook the makes of the cars as evidenced by the fact that I am basically a Ford buyer who supports a Dodge driver (Ryan Newman).

I dispute the assertion that NASCAR is follow the leader. I think it is the most competetive major series out there and I challenge someone to show me an open wheel series where there are more lead changes per race and more drivers who lead each race. Although NASCAR imposes and enforces tight regulations, it keeps the speeds down to increase competition as well as safety.

I must agree that NASCAR appeals to my pro-American tendencies with its majority American drivers but I also think the influx of former open wheel drivers shows this is where the best drivers are. Although the high profile nature and the big money appeals to them, I think they come because they want to race against the best.

As far as the technology, I think there is alot more there than it appears. Just because there is no fuel injection or computer on the car or it doesn't go 240 mph doesn't mean it is low tech. Teams like Hendrick and Roush don't employ 50 or more engineers each to sit on their hands. They are constantly researching and testing to find the smallest advantage to win in the most competetive major series in auto racing.

The funny thing about the pro-American thing for me is that is exactly one of things I don't like about NASCAR. It is TOO American.

It is not really all-American. Don't try to tell me it is still not dominated by the South. And its fans are still very homogeneous. That's why they get their own political stamp ("the NASCAR voters" or sometimes called middle class white men. The bubba image is rooted in truth.

I'll agree that the races are competitive. Lots of cars on the same lap, packed together, and jockeying for position.

As for technology, more technology from F1 makes it to road cars than what is under the shell of a NASCAR car. F1 produced PGM-FI, traction control, active suspension, sequential shifting, far more advanced braking (F1 drivers actually use their brakes frequently), etc.

So we differ. And that's OK.

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What killed Indy Car was the split between Cart Series and Indy Car, it destroyed Open Wheeled racing in America. With two similar leagues competing there was no major sponsorship money or tv deals. So all the american drivers switched leagues and went Nascar.

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ding ding ding!!!

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As for technology, more technology from F1 makes it to road cars than what is under the shell of a NASCAR car. F1 produced PGM-FI, traction control, active suspension, sequential shifting, far more advanced braking (F1 drivers actually use their brakes frequently), etc.

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Actually, a lot of F1 technology made it's way from aerospace technologies. And sequential shifting was on bikes long before F1 made it a standard. Lotus was developing active suspension for it's road cars long before they put it on their F1 cars.

Growing up, my dad raced dirt bikes, sports cars, and short tracks (dirt and asphalt). I like all kinds of racing. The first BIG racing event I went to go see was the 1984 F1 Grand Prix of Dallas. Most drivers want to prove that they are better. We can't accept that someone beat us because they were a better driver than us. It's always, "They had better equipment" or, "Their team has a bigger budget for testing". Most drivers end up in NASCAR SPECIFICALLY because they see it as being for the most part, very even. A place where their driving can make the difference. And for the most part, there are usually 10-15 drivers who have a legitimate shot at winning each weekend.

People like competive racing, therefore, NASCAR is popular. Until the IRL gets past it's Ganasi/Penske/Andretti-Green show, it won't get there soon.

A short clip at 190 mph from just last weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3jD7T_92mM

That's the difference in the two series in a nutshell. Stewart had just passed Montoya in the previous corner and had given him a bump as he did so.

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Just because they say Ford or Chevy they have nothing to do with what is on the road...... Racing on ovals with cars faked to look like American sedans has no interest to me.

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go on! you telling me I can't take Taurus to my local mechanic, do a few tricks to it, and compete with these guys?

well that sucks...

Point about lack of American drivers to identify with is valid.
I like both series, and many other forms of motor racing- ALMS, moto, etc. Just about anything except drag racing.

As a resident of Indianapolis....I have taken more of an interest in IRL. Going to the 500 a couple years ago was amazing. I could be wrong...but I think IRL requires more skill.

Racerfink - Yes you are right about sequential shifters. I had motorcycles in the early 80s. And active suspension - I don't doubt you are correct about Lotus. But they DID use active suspension in F1. But I can't think of anything in NASCAR that has anything to do with cars I drive today. I don't have a carbureted car, or boat, or jetski. The only thing at my house with a carburetor is an outdoor power tool.

I think drivers move to NASCAR because when their legs are too tired to use brakes.

In other words they want to be a defensive end instead of a quarterback.

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I could be wrong...but I think IRL requires more skill.

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That's an interesting quote considering what the drivers who have made the switch say.

Going from tons of downforce to almost none doesn't make it easier.

Did you think a Honda would win Indy this year?

I really don't care to see Honda vs Honda vs Honda...

Call me old fashioned, but I like Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge.

But is it really Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge? With the restrictions every car is almost the same, every engine is almost the same, all the tires are the same. (Most of the drivers are the same generic white guy as well.)

NASCAR is just as much a spec series as the IRL is at the moment, only the IRL doesn't have enough sponsors to slap different brands of motor/chassis on each car to give the false impression of diversity.

I enjoy the technical side just as much as the racing, and for my money Le Mans-style racing is the best. Check out the 24 hour race this weekend on Speed...

Yes, there's lots of "foreigners" driving, but the factory Corvettes are currently on pole over a similarly 'Merican Saleen (yes, the Mustang Saleen company) and a couple of snooty British Aston-Martins!

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(Most of the drivers are the same generic white guy as well.)

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That's funny....and so true.

I appreciate the incredible technology that goes into the Indy cars but that is all they have going for them. The races are boring with few lead changes and the same teams winning every week. I have tried to get into it but I just can't sit through an entire race, when they were at Texas it was cool for the first couple of laps but then I was ready to go.

In a nascar race there are constant lead changes and passing going on throughout the field the entire race. You never know who is going to pull it out or what is going to happen. I don't care whether the drivers are american or not and I pull for three ford drivers even though ford is the one brand I will probably never own. When it comes right down to it the racing is just better in nascar.