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