Formula . . . What?

[Nuvolari]

For those who can obtain copies, there have been pieces on the upcoming race in Thursday's and Friday's USA TODAY. The Thursday coverage included a very nice color diagram showing the layout of the circuit in relation to the rest of the Indy grounds.

The accompanying articles were, by varying degrees, infuriating for those who follow F1 (and the other open-wheel series). There were the inevitable NASCAR comparisons, written with a tolerant-to-condescending tone. I kept reminding myself these pieces were designed for the general reader.

It was also helpful to remember how I (rightly or wrongly) view the skill level of drivers who spend their Sunday afternoons turning left.

[freud]

Unless there are 3-4 American drivers fighting it out for the WDC, in the US F1 can never be as popular as NASCAR.

[Jay]

Americans are quite different form Canadians, however, in Canada F1 is not that much more popular, and the Canadian GP continues to be a bigger success every year.

[Liz]

It will be interesting to see if the Canadian GP and the USGP steal fans from each other or build each other up. Perhaps the people who could not attend a European GP were coming to Canada and now they will go to Indy? Or will they go to both?

Nothing much in the paper here, except an interesting quote from TGF that said he doesn't much care about the history of Indy as he doesn't watch it and rather thinks the people who keep asking him about Unser, Foyt et al. are condescending to him. (Exact quote on request).

I'll be waiting for what Autosport says.

[EERO]

I just read the aforementioned articles in the Web edition-hardly a ringing endorsement.

Saddly, I have seen no other mention in the Press or on the major Networks.


Has anyone seen today's NY Times? I'd expect they'd be good for a mention.

[Liz]

First-time fans to F-1 race are in for surprise

Commentary by Robin Miller

The Indianapolis Star

September 22, 2000





INDIANAPOLIS -- Formula One descends on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today in a collision of cultures, horsepower and traditions that promises to be as intriguing as it is different.

If you've never been to an F-1 race, you're in for a sensory thrill ride which will punish your ears and widen your eyes. It's a techno tornado that pushes the limits of engines and the 22 drivers they power. It's an obscene waste of money, unless you're a gearhead, a local restaurant, hotel or rent-a-car agency.

It's the final link of IMS president Tony George's triple crown and now he's got the three largest crowds in worldwide motorsports.

But, before the inaugural SAP U.S. Grand Prix turns a wheel, there are some things you need to know. Some nuances to look for. Some similarities between Indy cars, stock cars and F-1 cars. And some major differences.

For instance:

• Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 is four laps that usually produces as much drama as a race. Qualifying for F-1 is 12 total laps (per car) and a non-event until the closing minutes when McLaren and Ferrari try to one-up each other. But it's still one hell of a lot more exciting than watching the Bodine brothers take one lap at the Brickyard 400.

• Indy and Winston Cup cars run slick tires; F-1 has grooved tires to slow speeds and make a driver's life miserable.

• Michael Schumacher has tied Ayrton Senna with 41 wins. Michael Waltrip is 0 for 454.

• Fans can buy a pit or paddock pass at Indy to get next to the cars and drivers. Fans can buy binoculars to see F-1 drivers.

• F-1 chief Bernie Ecclestone throws away every shirt after he wears it once. NASCAR fans wear Dale Earnhardt T-shirts until they have to be thrown away.

• The F-1 Paddock Club serves smoked salmon, pheasant tongue sandwiches and Dom Perignon. Mark Dismore's pre-race meal is Jonathan Byrd's fried chicken, a biscuit and bottled water.

• Indy and the Brickyard have flying starts, while F-1 has a standing start -- and flying parts.

• If you don't own ear plugs, buy some.

• Eddie Cheever and Eddie Irvine are two of the best interviews at the Speedway, when they're not chasing women.

• McLaren spends more money in hospitality than most Indy Racing League teams have for a budget.

• In the interest of time, veteran IMS announcer Tom Carnegie will refer to Giancarlo Fishichella as "Gino,'' to Heintz-Harald Frentzen as "Hank,'' to Rubens Barrichello as "Ruby," and Jos Verstappen as "Joe.''

• A seat in a pitside suite is $4,000 on race day. You'll be able to buy a ticket, anywhere, for face value or less Sunday morning on Georgetown Road.

• Bernie Ecclestone got mad at me several years ago because I called him at home. Then, he called me a bad name.

• F-1 has Minardi. NASCAR has Dave Marcis. The IRL has Team Pelfrey.

• Mika Hakkinen is going for his third consecutive world title and leads Schumacher by two points after trailing him by 24 in mid-June.

• Ferrari has a $200 million dollar budget, the latest telemetry, designers, aerodynamicists, and engineers. Eliseo Salazar and Jeff Ward have A.J. Foyt.

• If it rains on race day, F-1 drivers still pour it on.

• Winston Cup has Matt Kenseth, F-1 has Jenson Button and the IRL has Sam Hornisch Jr.

• Ron Dennis used to buck rivets at Brabham. Now he's got buckets of money at McLaren.

• F-1 races have a two-hour time limit. You can go to church, eat lunch, cut your grass and still see the last 100 laps of any NASCAR race.

• David Coulthard's girlfriend and Buddy Lazier's wife are world class.

• An F-1 race is usually decided in the first corner, while an IRL race often comes down to the last few laps.

• Jacques Villeneuve won the last real Indy 500 in 1995 but hasn't scored an F-1 victory since he captured the 1997 title. Yet he's going to make in excess of $12 million next year and is still considered one of the three top talents on the grid.

[This is the town where they're having this race. This is what their newspapers are saying about it.]

[Valve Bounce]

That was great Liz, I really enjoyed it - and had a good laugh. We seldom have such humour on the net. Thnks for a most enjoyable post.

[jarama]

Great post, Liz. Funny and sincere. Thank you for let us know this commentary.