The top 10 most Prestigious races in the world.

[FAS33]

http://www.motorsport.com/general/ne...-in-the-world/

yeaaahhhh boiiii our race is in at No. 5

I'd say this is pretty accurate.

[AnEmmoFan]

Interesting to see that most of the events listed are/were endurance type events. Also most events on good tracks/routes that test the driver and car. Our Bathurst event deserves to be there!

Only one F1 Grand prix made the list !!

A few notable omissions from the list:

Daytona 24 Hours
Sebring 12 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
perhaps even Spa 1000km

If you look at races no longer run, such as the Targa Florio they may have made the list.

I am disappointed that Wakefield Park did not make it!!

[Adam43]

Intentionally, or unintentionally, there is only a single event from any series.

Great events all.

[peckstar]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Intentionally, or unintentionally, there is only a single event from any series.

Great events all.

Im going with intentionally

Would have had Indy 500 as No 1. The worlds biggest one day sporting event

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Im going with intentionally

Would have had Indy 500 as No 1. The worlds biggest one day sporting event

Maybe in 2016 but in 2015 the 24 hours at LeMans seems to have had the bigger race day attendance.

http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/26...746_21119.html

http://www.theindychannel.com/sports...t-the-indy-500

[fieldodreams79]

Certainly subjective but close enough. I would've included the 12 hrs of Sebring over one of the others, not being either 500s or LM, but as stated, we've thrown everyone a bone here.

Indy 500 vs LeMans argument generally depends on what side of the pond you are standing on and where I stand, it's the 500.

Still crazy that #2 and #3 happen within hours and now we throw the Ring 24 in and it's a busy day today!

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Maybe in 2016 but in 2015 the 24 hours at LeMans seems to have had the bigger race day attendance.

http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/26...746_21119.html

http://www.theindychannel.com/sports...t-the-indy-500

I'd have to agree with you based on recent years as the Indy 500 is a shadow of its former self. For many, many years Indy was way bigger in attendance than Le Mans and earned the right to be described as the world's biggest single day event.

Whether or not that is still the case probably is a matter of personal allegiance and interest.

[db120176]

Originally Posted by AnEmmoFan

A few notable omissions from the list:

Daytona 24 Hours
Sebring 12 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
perhaps even Spa 1000km

Did Spa 24 hours lose it's luster when it moved away from touring cars?

[Deleted]

Indy might have the (single day) live attendance on it's side, but comparatively terrible TV ratings on network TV make it a laughing stock against such events like Daytona 500.

Anyway the order of the top 3 is accurate IMO, the rest can always be argued over.

LM is obviously unpassable.

[Paradise City]

The filthy and disgusting masses would regard Monaco as the most prestigious. LeMans is the race of the choice for the motorsport connoisseur. People who like their motorsports national may hold the hair-raising Nordschleife in the most esteem or make Bathurst as their race of choice. As a venue, that Indianapolis Speedway with its towering giga-stadia has a kind of uniquely fairytale other-worldly quality to it. The race itself is slowly on the mend there but it's certainly not the multilayered, blood n' guts overnight slog LeMans is.

[Deleted]

Well Monaco, today, is certainly the single best known if we consider all the regions of the world put together.

[Paradise City]

If prestige is rated by global esteem, then we're talking Monaco here.

If it's by some other metric, among students of motorsport or the event the drivers most want to win, we're perhaps talking different venues.

Indianapolis inhabits the American consciousness like no other race. I don't know if any other race has that iconic status in their respective countries -- even if noone is watching it or can name any contemporary drivers! The Indianapolis 500 is a name that far transcends the race itself.

[Deleted]

I'm pretty sure Daytona 500 has far bigger general public household status in US than Indy does today.

[peckstar]

sad that monaco, with all its prestige, provides such dud racing

[db120176]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I'm pretty sure Daytona 500 has far bigger general public household status in US than Indy does today.

Is the Brickyard 400 close to surpassing the Indy 500 in the US?

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I'm pretty sure Daytona 500 has far bigger general public household status in US than Indy does today.

Yeah but StarTrek might not have as good ratings as some other show that's in vogue. But that don't make Mr. Spock any less an iconic figure.

I do appreciate the Daytona 500 has a powerful iconic pull in its own right. Even so, I don't think it's quite as cemented in history as the Indianapolis 500 - tethered as it is to Memorial Day.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by db120176

Is the Brickyard 400 close to surpassing the Indy 500 in the US?

I'm no NASCAR expert but that 400 event is losing popularity seemingly every year, so answer would be no

[Axeman444]

Interesting to hear DC say on the weekend that F1 has really outgrown Monaco now in terms of safety and facilities, but the circus still goes there because of the history.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I'm pretty sure Daytona 500 has far bigger general public household status in US than Indy does today.

25 years ago, the average "American sports fan" could probably name about half the Indy 500 field and at least half the Daytona 500 field. These days, they may know 2 or 3 more than Helio for Indy and slightly less than half for Daytona. The series that goes to Indy has been a nonexistent to the general public for years while nascar is slowly eroding from it. However internationally, the Speedway and series that goes to Speedway IN Memorial day weekend has more prestige. Always has and probably always will.

[racer69]

Originally Posted by db120176

Is the Brickyard 400 close to surpassing the Indy 500 in the US?

Mid-2000s it was probably getting close, but nowadays the Indy 500 is well and truly king again at IMS.

The tyre problems in the 2008 Brickyard 400 did for that event what the 2005 US GP did for the F1 race there.... the crowds have been very poor there the last few years. It has been mentioned that the only thing keeping the event there these days is that the tracks get a hefty sum from NASCAR as part of the TV deal.

[fieldodreams79]

And I think most traditionalists on either side are or have been done with this event for awhile, fan wise, while Cup drivers and teams want the opportunity to say they won at the Brickyard.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

Interesting to hear DC say on the weekend that F1 has really outgrown Monaco now in terms of safety and facilities, but the circus still goes there because of the history.

It's been years like that, the only reason it's kept as Grade 1 / F1 eligible and doesn't have to obey the asphalt carpark directives like all the other tracks do, is because of the historical prestige.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by db120176

Is the Brickyard 400 close to surpassing the Indy 500 in the US?

No