| When you talk car racing most people think of | | | | stringent tire rules allow for creativity that can |
| NASCAR - National Association for Stock Car | | | | yield excitement and positive results on the track. |
| Auto Racing. It is, perhaps, the most popular | | | | INDY RACING LEAGUE: |
| sport in America. Along with NASCAR, there are | | | | The Indy Racing League (IRL) sponsors races |
| three other major types of car racing in America | | | | primarily on oval tracks with the centerpiece being |
| - Formula 1, Champ Car, and Indy Racing League. | | | | the Indianapolis 500, which is held every year on |
| Taken together, these four racing groups offer a | | | | Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis |
| range of competition and challenges for drivers | | | | Speedway. The schedule, which has the fewest |
| and exciting experiences for racing fans. | | | | races of the four major racing organizations, |
| FORMULA 1: | | | | produces 14 events. The IRL season kicks off in |
| The Formula 1 race calendar starts in March and | | | | late March and runs until early September. The |
| goes into October with 18 races in 18 different | | | | only road course for this series in 2006 is the |
| countries. The American race is held at the | | | | Infineon in Sonoma, CA and the only race held |
| Indianapolis Speedway, with the 2006 contest | | | | outside of the U.S. occurs at Twin Ring Motegi, |
| occurring on July 2nd. The race covers | | | | Japan. |
| approximately 190 miles or 73 laps on the Indy | | | | The IRL was founded in 1996 and, since that |
| road course. | | | | time, has gone through various growing pains. Like |
| Formula 1 cars have open cockpits, open wheels, | | | | the Champ Car World Series, its cars are open |
| and are very low to the ground. They're made | | | | wheel racers with a central cockpit. At first the |
| with one primary goal in mind - speed. Extremely | | | | IRL had difficulty attracting top drivers; however, |
| fast speeds define Formula 1 racing. | | | | as the organization gained credence, it was able to |
| The chassis, which must be constricted by the | | | | attract some competitive drivers. |
| racing team, are made of ultra-light materials such | | | | In 2007, as part of an environmentally friendly |
| as carbon fiber, allowing the cars to jet down the | | | | policy, all IRL cars will be running on ethanol. Indy |
| track. They also have wings in the front and | | | | circuit cars have tires that are similar to those |
| back, which are designed to keep the cars low to | | | | used on Formula 1 cars, while their agility and |
| the ground and to help them cut down air | | | | weight are akin to that of the Champ racers. |
| resistance. Every aspect is dedicated to precision | | | | Of the four racing groups, the IRL may be the |
| and speed and thus an unneeded feature like | | | | weakest when it comes to financial stability and |
| bumpers have been eliminated. The intimate | | | | name recognition. Many fans, sports writers, and |
| cockpit is in the middle of the vehicle, giving the | | | | officials who are interested in open wheel racing |
| machine a strong center of gravity. All of these | | | | have called for the unification of IRL and Champ |
| elements help make them extremely | | | | Cars, making one organization with the very best |
| aerodynamic and fast - their speeds top 200 mph. | | | | drivers and most competitive races. Many feel |
| One of the major challenges for drivers of these | | | | that American Indy car racing would benefit from |
| cars is the complex course they run. The | | | | the strength of having a single group in charge, |
| Indianapolis track has 13 turns, including hairpins | | | | resulting in a less diluted product while helping to |
| that demand a driver quickly downshift from a | | | | establish dominance over Formula 1. |
| speed of almost 200 mph to 86 mph and then to | | | | NASCAR: |
| 36 mph. Then the driver pushes the throttle up to | | | | Even if you don't know what the letters stand for |
| 160 mph. All of this happens during a five-turn | | | | or you've never been to a NASCAR sanctioned |
| sequence that covers about 1/2 mile on the | | | | race, everyone knows that NASCAR is about |
| 2.6-mile course. Many Formula 1 races are run in | | | | stock car racing. Stock cars are simply racecars |
| city streets that become racetracks just for that | | | | that take road models or common stock as the |
| event. | | | | foundation from which the racecar is created. |
| Along with the blinding speed, lightweight vehicles, | | | | The Nextel Cup Series, NASCARS' premiere |
| and complex courses come the dangers of this | | | | event, starts in February and finishes up in |
| sport. When a car going 200 mph loses its grip on | | | | November. Along with being the longest of the |
| the track, spins and nails a retaining wall, other | | | | race seasons, NASCAR also boasts the most |
| drivers have to instantly adjust. If they don't, the | | | | events - 39! Additionally, they have the most |
| results can be deadly. | | | | drivers - 50 as opposed to the approximately 20 |
| Of the four major categories of car racing, | | | | involved in each of the other organizations. |
| Formula 1 is the least popular in America. Perhaps | | | | NASCAR races are held on road courses, ovals, |
| this is due to the international nature of its venues | | | | irregularly shaped tracks, and circular raceways. |
| - there's only one race in America - along with the | | | | Three things that make NASCAR popular are the |
| fact that the races are run every other week, | | | | regularity of its schedule, the expert machines, |
| unlike NASCAR that runs every week except on | | | | crews, and drivers, and the ability of the |
| Easter Sunday. | | | | organization to be innovative while still holding to |
| CHAMP CAR: | | | | tradition. |
| The 16-race Champ Car World Series starts in | | | | The look of the stock cars, unlike the racers for |
| late March and run into the middle of November. | | | | Formula 1, Champ Car or IRL, make NASCAR the |
| Fourteen of its races are in the U.S., Canada or | | | | race of the people because we all drive vehicles |
| Mexico, with two other contests being held in | | | | that look like the cars that Jeff Gordon. Sterling |
| Australia and South Korea. Bridgestone is the | | | | Martin, and Jimmie Johnson maneuver each week. |
| major sponsor of Champ Car (Champ Car is the | | | | Few of us can see ourselves behind the wheel of |
| short for Championship Car). | | | | a Formula 1, but many of us drive a Chevy like |
| Although a few of the races are run on ovals, | | | | Tony Stewart, a Dodge like Kyle Petty or a Ford |
| most of the contests are held on road courses. In | | | | like Dale Jarrett. This connection that fans make |
| fact, many of the races are held on city streets | | | | with the stock car certainly helps extend the |
| that have been converted for that one weekend | | | | popularity of the circuit in the U.S. |
| into a road course. Cities that set up temporary | | | | Also, unlike the other three organizations, |
| tracks include Long Beach and San Jose, CA; | | | | NASCAR runs their races every week. It's |
| Houston, TX; and Denver, CO. Although some are | | | | grueling, but it also creates a great competitive |
| shorter and others a bit longer, most Champ | | | | atmosphere and a large following that wants to |
| courses run about 2 miles in length. Like their | | | | know if Sterling Martin is going to cut off Jeff |
| Formula 1 counterparts, Champ Cars reach | | | | Gordon just like he did last week; and if he does, |
| speeds of close to 200 mph. | | | | what will Gordon do about it? |
| The Champ Car raceways, for the most part, are | | | | Stock car races tend to include many lead |
| shorter than Formula 1 tracks and also have | | | | changes, sparring amongst drivers, and athletic pit |
| fewer and more gradual turns. You'll find Formula | | | | stops. Also, NASCAR holds all of its races in the |
| 1 courses feature between 12 and 20 turns with | | | | United States, giving the entire circuit a specific |
| at least one tight series of hairpins, while Champ | | | | national focus. |
| Car tracks average approximately 9 turns, and | | | | Although NASCAR is not the only game in town, |
| although they certainly demand tight maneuvering, | | | | they are the best known and most organized, |
| they don't offer the complex, extremely narrow | | | | offering fans weekly competition with an intensity |
| angles of Formula 1. | | | | and drive that no other racing organization has |
| Because Champ cars race on ovals along with | | | | rivaled. The other groups certainly have their |
| street courses, they are heavier and have a | | | | following and produce a great product, but |
| longer wheelbase. Oval courses with their lack of | | | | Formula 1 may be too elite to ever reach |
| turns encourage higher speeds, and these speeds | | | | Americans the way NASCAR has. Champ Car is |
| put more stress on a car; thus the wheelbase on | | | | more grounded in America but lacks the weekly |
| a Champ Car is sturdier but less agile than those | | | | head-to-head competition and IRL has been unable |
| on Formulas 1 racers. These less maneuverable | | | | to exploit the mystique of the Indy racecar. |
| wheelbases are one of the primary reasons that | | | | It may behoove you to check out all four of |
| Champ Cars do not have to negotiate the | | | | these major racing organizations and their events. |
| ultra-tight street course curves that their | | | | If you're a NASCAR fan, you may find something |
| counterparts do. | | | | unique in Formula 1 that you can also enjoy. |
| There is certainly a rivalry between the American | | | | Champ Car lovers should be able to get into the |
| based Champ Car enthusiasts and the international | | | | non-stop nature of stock car racing. Formula 1 |
| Formula 1 fans that focuses on which is the | | | | folks may enjoy the variety NASCAR offers, |
| better circuit, has more competitive races, and | | | | while IRL enthusiasts might like the international |
| the best teams. In looking at each type of car, it's | | | | flavor of Formula 1. |
| hard to tell the difference between them. They | | | | Then again - these camps and their allegiances |
| are very similar but each has unique | | | | may not be interested in ever crossing over to |
| characteristics. | | | | the other side. |
| Formula-1 racecars are powered by gasoline and | | | | ONLINE BETTING |
| are not turbocharged, whereas Champs burn | | | | If you think that sports wagering is limited to the |
| methanol and utilize the turbo. Champ Cars also | | | | four major sports (football, basketball, baseball |
| use non-grooved tires, and they are allowed to | | | | and hockey), think again. A number of online |
| incorporate a set of softer compound wheels, | | | | sportsbooks offer race fans an opportunity to |
| providing them with an edge over other cars, | | | | cash in on their favorites. You can easily find odds |
| making the outcome of the race less predictable. | | | | online on which driver or team will win a race, |
| Some race fans prefer Champ Car to Formula 1 | | | | capture the pole position or finish in the top three. |
| due to the fact that lead changes are more | | | | The cars are running - take part in the |
| achievable in the former and also because the less | | | | excitement on race day. |