Is the Indy 500 more popular than the Coca-Cola 600

2008-09-10T07:12:58-04:00

2008-05-23T12:59:00-04:00

2008-09-10T06:39:49-04:00

2008-05-27T21:47:58-04:00

Anton Chigurh

Munster 383335

Quit trying to act like the bigger man here and pick a side! 1845760

2008-05-27T00:47:37-04:00

jamesjenkins

Saint Petersburg 432948

I see this topic as such. The Indy 500 will always have a place in American Motor sports history. It has been around for many years and still is to this day is appreciated and respected by many. There are many NASCAR fans that are fans and appreciate the history that the Indy 500 has. NASCAR and in this particular discussion, the Coca Cola 600 (formally the World 600) also has a place in Motor sports history. One reason is that it is the longest distance race in either the Indy or NASCAR leagues. (The 24 hours of LeMans for Rolex 24 hour race in Daytona are not included) And the Coca Cola 600 as well have fans from Indy 500 faithful. Remember that it is the spirit of competition that is the key of each league. Have the best car and crew and you will be successful. Both Indy and NASCAR each have their own set of racing rules and regulations that try to give all teams an equal opportunity to be competitive. Each League will always have their own fan base and will continue to gain new fans each week. Personal opinions are preferences that each of us have and have that right to express. They are just that. They are OUR individual preference and does not mean that others have the same sentiment or opinion. It is my understanding that no one "fan" of either league has been selected to be the spokes person for any or all of the fans within their leagues. Each league is equal in their own right. Which means that neither league is any better than the other. On a final note, all of us who profess to be die hard motorsports fans and for whichever league we support, should understand, appreciate and respect, the sport that we so passionately love with the understanding that there is someone just like you or I on the other side feeling the same way. 1838323

2008-05-26T12:08:02-04:00

Anton Chigurh

Munster 383335

First of all, if technology makes it fun to watch, then why are there only 18 lead changes in a 500 mile race? The Coke 600 had that many in less than half that distance. As for your weight jacker argument, the crew chief, or whatever "race strategist" the IRL has, tells the driver what to do. You think Danica has any idea what any of that stuff does? I saw her on American Chopper, and when Mikey asked her about the engine, she couldn't answer a thing for him, she had to refer him to her mechanics. You're asking when I've seen a carburetor on a new car? When was the last time you've seen a one-seater car with a front and rear wing and two side pods turning 10000 rpms? Race cars aren't supposed to be exactly like passenger cars, otherwise there would be no such thing as Indy Cars. NASCAR's technology is in the most important thing, safety. The new car, as ugly as it is, is a lot more safer than the old one and allowed Michael McDowell walk away from one of the worst crashes I've seen. Finally, I said Montoya was a good racer, he's one of the best in the world, but his win was a lucky one. It came on a fuel mileage road course race. Everyone else had to pit and he stayed out, exactly like Danica's win last month. Casey Mears also won a lucky race last year, and he hasn't done anything since, or before it for that matter, so that just shows that anyone can win in NASCAR at any race, not just those from Ganassi Racing, Andretti Green Racing, or Team Penske. 1834512

2008-05-26T09:22:51-04:00

CARTfan4ever

Elkhart 432421

I believe this is an AMERICAN blog, about AMERICAN races on an AMERICAN website. The question was NOT about "which race is the best in thw WORLD".. Leave it to snooty F1 freaks to stick their nose in where they weren't even asked. The first Indy 500 was held at the Speedway on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911. NOW who's the "Grand Daddy" of them all? 1833906

2008-05-25T23:34:38-04:00

krazie2k8

Augusta 432475

Indy 500. It's the biggest race in the world. It's the most watched, and how can you argue with 300,000+ fans at the track. Monaco has like 80,00 to 120,000 and the Coke 600 has about 160,000. Anton Chigurth, your talking about the IRL drivers don't do any thing the computers and teams? The drivers have weight jackers in the car to change that balance from corner to corner. Nascar drivers have to have their team do every thing for them, they can't change anything themselves. Nascar is behind the times because they don't embrace technology. They still run carburetors, when is the last time that you've seen a new car with carburetors? Technology doesn't make it easier to drive just makes it fun to watch. Also to all the people that think the Open wheelers can't drive because there not doing so well right now. This is their first year in competition in Nascar. It will take a couple of years but when the do get use to the cars watch out and move over, They are talented drivers that will win in nascar. It will just take a bit of time. When was the last race that Earnhart won? Montoya has won a race since Earnhart. 1832339

2008-05-25T22:49:29-04:00

Gand0rk

No City 432561

If you mean for American Racing, the I would vote for the indy 500. I don't follow racing in the US but i hear about the indy 500. But the most popular in the world, nothing beats the Monaco F1 grand prix. It is the holy grail for all drivers to be able to win as an F1 driver. If you can't win the championship, then a Monaco victory would be the next priority. 1832126

2008-05-25T21:52:14-04:00

Anton Chigurh

Munster 383335

We have more idiots posting on here than there were lead changes in the Indy 500 and whatever single file slot car race Formula 1 had to offer. I don't get how Lars can say NASCAR races are too long, and then talk about how great the Indy 500 is, because it's just as long as NASCAR races. So if all you idiots want to see real racing where the driver actually has to do something instead of having computers and the team do everything for you, watch the race tonight. By the way, how are all the IRL and Formula 1 racers doing in NASCAR? Oh yeah, they are struggling to even make it in the race each week. Montoya's the only respectable one, and he hasn't done anything. A Formula 1 champion, Villenueve? Kicked out of his seat before he even raced one race. So, keep talking you dumb wannabe Europeans, your arguments make no sense. 1831946

2008-05-25T21:06:39-04:00

Idle Thoughts Of A DayDreamer

Melbourne 432513

On the same weekend as the Monaco F1 grand prix... you must be kidding! F1 has the best cars, the best drivers, the most advanced technology all combined in the premier motorsport category on the planet. This is just another case of American's being ignorant of the rest of the world. 1831867

2008-05-25T19:34:28-04:00

AdamW

No City 432521

Another vote for Monaco. I mean, at least put it in the contest. I loved watching the 500 - the (slightly contrived) American racing rules make it pretty much dependably a great contest, which doesn't always apply to F1 races. But it's hard to deny that F1 racing in general has better cars, better drivers, and better teams (the ABC commentators' raving about the quality of Indy pit crews was pretty entertaining to anyone who watches F1), and the rules - while they tend to, if anything, militate against close races - are more, strictly speaking, conducive to a _fair_ contest. And then the event of Monaco in particular has an amazing history, and is intrinsically more of an interesting event than, as the naysayers tend to put it, 'turning left for 500 miles' (which is a bit reductionist but nevertheless essentially true; sure, there's lines and fuel and tyres and lift-off - not braking - points to consider, but it doesn't really compare to driving Monaco in the rain). Coca Cola 600? oh, come on. NASCAR is a spectacle and an expertly stage-managed ongoing storyline, it's not serious skilled racing. (The _strategists_, on the other hand, should get the serious paydays. And whoever writes the scripts.) If you want to be cruel, you could say that F1 drivers who can't quite hack it go to Indy, and Indy drivers who can't quite hack it go to NASCAR... 1831628

2008-05-25T17:54:23-04:00

shades846

No City 428349

I have to agree with K85 out of the 500 and 600 I would go with 500 but this year F1 Monte carlo GP was a great race with running in the rain makes the races intresting. 1831287

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial">SI.com's Lars Anderson and Tom Bowles <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/05/23/head2head.races/index.html?eref=T1" target="_blank">debated</a> whether the Indianapolis 500 has recaptured the cachet it once had or whether NASCAR's Coca-Cola 500 in has Charlotte supplanted Indy as the preeminent race of Memorial Day weekend. What do you think?</span></p> 2204

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