Why is NASCAR so popular and Formual 1 has not really caught on in the US? IMHO, NASCAR has to be the most red neck and boring racing event, while Formula 1 keeps it classy with sponsors like Rolex and races in exotic locations and keeps things interesting with more than 2 turns on a track, while NASCAR is full of a bunch of fat Bud Light drinking red necks watching cars go around in circles like a bunch of autistic MFers. What say you?
For the most part you are correct about NASCAR. I have a friend who lives in NC and we went to the Coke 600. It is BYOB. People were bringing in enormous coolers with beer and food. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think NASCAR would have the following if it wasn’t for that.
NASCAR is still pure racing.
Formula one has become more about tech,tyres etc.
Formula 1 has only 1 race in the U.S. (and that is recent, several years went by when they didn’t have any). Most people don’t like to get up at weird times to watch a race on TV. Fans also are a bit nationalistic, particularly racing fans. They’d rather watch Americans race, given the choice.
Also, the IndyCar series has races that aren’t just on ovals (street and race circuits too). However, these days most people only watch the Indy 500, rather than the races that aren’t on ovals.
Open-wheel racing used to be more popular than NASCAR, but that’s not the case anymore. As a result, the Indy 500 is on broadcast TV, but the other races usually are not (you have to watch them on Versus or something). Virtually all the NASCAR races are on broadcast. Obviously, they wouldn’t be on without fans, but having so many races easily watchable helps keep NASCAR more popular.
Do they really show NASCAR in Equatorial Guinea. I don’t know if that is really where you are from but I assume you’re not American since you spelled “tires” the British way, “Tyres”.
I always get Indy and F1 mixed up - which is the one that comes to Montreal, and which is the more prestigous event?
As far as Nascar, I’m no fan but Top Gear sent Hammond for an episode on it and made it look exciting actually. I’ve got a little more respect for it after that one.
I went to a NASCAR race for the first time this year in Fontana, SoCal cause I got me some free tix.
Gates opened at 9am, and race started at noon local time, I guess to accommodate East Coast fan base? Seems awfully early. I rolled in at 9:30ish to catch the pre-race activities, motorcycle dare devils, lucha libre wrestling and some bands. Raging 80’s heavy metal band at 9:45am when I am still sipping on my coffee was painful, although there were plenty of rednecks who seem to have been camping around all night and were just going strong, pounding bud lites.
Overall it was a massive freakshow on giant fairgrounds. I spent probably no more than 20% of my time actually watching the race, just the start and the finish…
I don’t get NASCAR either, you just go around a circular track. At least F1 has squiggly tracks with cool names like Nurburgring.
I mean, it’s all about marketing, right? NASCAR is “stock car” racing. So, they market the sport to people who take pride in owning their Chevy Impala or whatever. NASCAR is a family owned domestic business, and they are good at catering to their intended audience. I suspect that some of the race outcomes might even be “adjusted” to create more appeal.
F1 is interesting to me because they push the limits of automotive technology. F1 car is one of the most advanced machines made by humans. The engines spin at 18,000 RPM. The exhaust pipes glow yellow when the engine is at speed. Lots of the technology - either from engines, safety, materials, or aero bits - eventually influence production cars.
NASCAR is really big in 'Murica, while the autonomous nation of America really finds the “sport” lame.
I’ve been to over 20 Indy 500s, and I go every year with my family. I end up falling asleep during the race pretty much every year, but it’s still a fun outing overall.
The heavy drinking and watching the crashes are the primary reason to go for us, since none of us follow racing except for on Memorial Day weekend, but there are some folks who are really into it. I figure it’s just like any other sport, where the fans “get it” while the outsiders will never understand. Look at baseball - most people find a pitchers’ duel boring as hell, but a lot of hardcore fans would prefer one to watching Mark McGuire hit some dingers.
I woudn’t go to a NASCAR race even if they gave me $100 and a six-pack of Bud light.
F1 is amazing for the reasons mentioned above, and live F1 races are nice, especially if you’re sitting on the main grandstand / club level where you have a clear view of the finish line and pits.
I live in Texas–where drunken rednecks are a dime a dozen.
I, too, do not see the interest in a sport where the only thing the “athlete” does is turn left.
Formula 1 is the answer to both your questions.
Another advantage of F1 is the models and escorts that follow the race from city to city. Top notch.
isildurrr is from India and yes, Formula One > NASCAR
South Park did an episode (titled “Poor and Stupid”) on NASCAR in season 14.
NASCAR : F1 = NFL : Rugby
Why don’t you just say what you mean? You think NASCAR is worse than F1 and NFL is worse than Rugby. Debateable.
He could just mean that NASCAR and NFL are ultra commercialized and cater to certain kinds of demographics - more so than F1 or Rugby. There is a freaking Doritos NASCAR car! And each NFL game is 11 minutes of play and 49 minutes of commercials.