Spinoff thread - why can't Nascar and Formula One fans get along??

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'm going to be upfront. I prefer NASCAR over Formula One. And I can give my reasons - stock cars resemble real cars I can buy, and it is more accessible in the US. I have a choice of a couple tracks in diving distance if I want to see a race.

But I don't bash on someone who likes Formula One. I get that it is more exciting to some people who like the high speeds and the road courses. So why do you prefer one over the other?

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

The technology, and the 1.6 litre turbocharged engines next year keeps me tuned to F1.

I wish NASCAR would get a second tire manufacturer involved. Back when Hoosier and Goodyear were both involved, lot of good racing.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I definitely prefer NASCAR over F1. I do not like the road courses, and I hate when NASCAR does their two or three per year. I generally don't watch those weeks - I'd rather catch up later on who won rather than watch. To be honest, I don't know anyone who likes F1.

I've been a fan for 20 years. Rooted for Dale Sr. until the day he died. I've been rooting for Tony Stewart for many, many years - since he came into the Busch Series (now Nationwide of course).

Only been to one race all this time - one single truck series race at Kentucky Speedway. Love watching on TV, though.

 

[mcraige]

I prefer NASCAR, but the last few years have gotten tired of the way sponsors seem to run the sport, and of the overall poor racing (I hate d
restrictor plates, and if I hear "aero tight or aero loose" this year I will scream!). I don't really follow F1, but have started watching ALMS and really like those races.

 

[Elmo9607]

F1 has technology that is well beyond NASCAR. NASCAR does do road courses (Road America). However, what galls me personally about NASCAR is quite a few stock car fans don't seem to (or don't want to) acknowledge other racing series. For example, at the Nationwide 200 at Road America, Grand-Am was also there. I don't think many folks know NASCAR owns Grand-Am. They turned their noses up at the sports cars.

Another disparaging factor between the two is simple: money. F1 has an unfathomable amount of money. It's ASTOUNDING. As such, it is seen as a very glamourous, upper class sport. Upper class indeed...they race in some of the richest cities in the world. NASCAR is seen as more common...the cars are cheaper, they resemble cars you'd see on the road every day. They only race in the US. The drivers are more grounded, a bit more down to earth. To an F1 fan (a true, European F1 fan) NASCAR is 'cheap and trashy'.

To keep it straight...I'm not a NASCAR fan...OR an F1 fan. I like technology, but I don't like snobbery. I follow sports car racing, which is a very happy medium.

 

[luvmy3]

I think it has something to do with Ricky Bobby and Jean Girard.

 

[Elmo9607]

I think it has something to do with Ricky Bobby and Jean Girard.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Primarily, it's a snooty attitude toward NASCAR and its fans. I find it interesting that even within the 4wd enthusiast community, many folks have a snooty attitude toward anything they view as "redneck" - an attitude I find extremely ironic from folks whose own sport (rock crawling) elicits more cheers from crashes than from success

There's no doubt F1 is at the top of the food chain technologically, and I don't know anyone who doesn't appreciate that. Unfortunately, the racing action is often poor wih such a small number of competitors spread out over a large track. I don't look down my nose at it and would love to see a race in person, but it doesn't translate well to TV.

Grand Am is pretty exciting, but the Cup cars on the same track are faster (except for the DP cars) and WAY louder. It's good racing though.

 

[HelenePA]

I definitely prefer NASCAR over F1. I do not like the road courses, and I hate when NASCAR does their two or three per year. I generally don't watch those weeks - I'd rather catch up later on who won rather than watch. To be honest, I don't know anyone who likes F1.

I've been a fan for 20 years. Rooted for Dale Sr. until the day he died. I've been rooting for Tony Stewart for many, many years - since he came into the Busch Series (now Nationwide of course).

Only been to one race all this time - one single truck series race at Kentucky Speedway. Love watching on TV, though.

nascar has 2 road courses fontana and the glen... I've been to the glen and its so boring.. I do not get why F1 or Indy car fans go to races.. you see them for 3 seconds every 4 minutes.. how is that exciting?

I'm a redneck.. my first "car" was a pick up truck and I listen to country music... obviously I'm a nascar fan I plan on getting a #3 tattoo sometime next month..

 

[Gumbo4x4]

nascar has 2 road courses fontana and the glen... I've been to the glen and its so boring.. I do not get why F1 or Indy car fans go to races.. you see them for 3 seconds every 4 minutes.. how is that exciting?

They also race the Nationwide cars on a Canadian road course. Aren't the trucks racing on dirt this year or next? That'll be cool!

 

[BearcatsFan]

nascar has 2 road courses fontana and the glen... I've been to the glen and its so boring.. I do not get why F1 or Indy car fans go to races.. you see them for 3 seconds every 4 minutes.. how is that exciting?

I'm a redneck.. my first "car" was a pick up truck and I listen to country music... obviously I'm a nascar fan I plan on getting a #3 tattoo sometime next month..

If watching NASCAR makes me a redneck, then I'm a redneck and not afraid to say so. I've been wanting tattoo #2 for years now.

 

[HelenePA]

They also race the Nationwide cars on a Canadian road course. Aren't the trucks racing on dirt this year or next? That'll be cool!

honestly I dont follow it as close as I did before Dale died.. its just not the same.

and my cousin is an Indy fan. I just dont "get it" kinda like how he doesn't get Nascar and that's okay.. Couldn't pay me to sit thru and road course again though!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

honestly I dont follow it as close as I did before Dale died.. its just not the same.

and my cousin is an Indy fan. I just dont "get it" kinda like how he doesn't get Nascar and that's okay.. Couldn't pay me to sit thru and road course again though!

My wife really dislikes the road courses, too. I kind of enjoy them as there is always a lot of action. I would not appreciate the obstructed view in person though - had that same issue at Indy for NASCAR, actually.

 

[HelenePA]

My wife really dislikes the road courses, too. I kind of enjoy them as there is always a lot of action. I would not appreciate the obstructed view in person though - had that same issue at Indy for NASCAR, actually.

I think we were at turn 2 or 3 at the glen.. we actually snuck in without tix We were on our way to Niagara Falls and it just happened to be race weekend... after 45min or so I begged my now DH to leave. It was hot and very boring!

 

[Squirlz]

I've liked all kinds of motorsport for as long as I can remember. NASCAR racing was an uniquely American form of racing, but I watched it get ruined by greed. A victim of it's own popularity and now they are paying for. Few of today's fans realize they are watching a completely dumbed-down version of what it used to be.

I love road courses. Like an outing in the park with cars racing by! Really the only bigotry I've experienced is NASCAR fans getting all defensive. I say enjoy whatever you like.

 

[Fire14]

I got dragged into Nascar via marriage but do like watching indy also. never seen f1. I have yet to get to go to a nascar race. I'm to point where I'm going without other half ( who has been to multiple race)

 

[momof1princess]

my DH is an avid F1 fan, and, i'll be honest, even after all these years, i still don't get it. the cars are slow, the races are boring, and the announcers put me to sleep. i don't care for nascar either; it's also too slow for my taste. i'm an NHRA fan - 320-330 mph in 4 seconds or less! YES MA'AM! that's my kind of racin'! and there's a new race every minute or so, so there's no opportunity to get bored. DH and i went to the NHRA race in commerce, ga, in 1996, and that's all it took - i was hooked! DH likes NHRA too, but i can tell F1 is his favorite.

disclaimer: when i say F1 and nascar are slow, i'm comparing them to NHRA. overall, yes, they're fast, but they crawl like snails next to the NHRA dragsters, funny cars and pro stock.

 

[Squirlz]

Something not many people know is after Dale drove for Corvette Racing in the 2001 Rolex 24, he told the team that in the near future he was going to leave NASCAR and join them. What a shot in the arm for sport car racing that would have been!

 

[Shutterbug]

the cars are slow,

The F1 cars are slow???? In acceleration and braking they beat the pants off a stock car any day. Also the G-forces that the drivers feel as do a quick left and right would give anyone a neck ache by the end of the day.
F1 is 5Gs vs 2Gs of Nascar. *okay just say your disclaimer. That I will give on NHRA..lol...but can they turn left or right at those speeds?

Also F1 has no refueling. What gas they have at start of the race is what they have for the whole race.

I like how they have to pick their lines making turns, choosing the right apex through a corner, choosing the right braking point all of that leads to a faster time.

Also ever watch an F1 pit stop? If you blink you will miss it! Its that fast.

Also a biggie, F1 does run in the rain

The F1 race in Austin TX this past year was packed even for the practice and qualifying sessions. If they can maintain that has yet to be seen but it shows how much those in America have wanted something like this.

 

[Squirlz]

Also ever watch an F1 pit stop? If you blink you will miss it! Its that fast.

Less than 3 seconds to change 4 tires. Absolutely phenomenal!

Another complaint you hear from people who don't understand F1, 'The guy on the pole almost always wins.' Indeed! That's why qualifying is a show in itself. There's as much strategy, intrigue and excitement in qualifying as there is in the race. If you don't watch it you are literally missing half the show.