How to Compare NASCAR to F1
Auto racing is a popular, fast-paced sport. NASCAR and Formula 1 (or F1) draw large audiences on television, radio and at live events. Spectators are drawn by the speed, competition, danger, and dazzling displays of automotive machinery and the drivers behind the wheels. However, NASCAR and F1 are distinguished in a number of ways. The style of car chassis is very different, they conduct races in significantly different ways, and the rules each organization follows makes for a very different driving experience.
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Consider the differences in mechanical caliber. F1 cars are extremely high-tech. They are build on a light-weight chassis, high-powered engines, use specialized electronic driver aids such as traction control, and employ sophisticated aerodynamics to boost speed. NASCAR vehicles, on the other hand, must conform to a closed-wheel template so different racing teams cannot claim a vast technological advantage over others. The cars are heavier and their mechanics are simpler. NASCAR cars are based on a steel tube-frame chassis using manual gearboxes.
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Look at the map. NASCAR's fan base is almost exclusively American, while F1 appeals to a more international audience. F1 holds races at locations around the globe such as: Sepang, Imola, Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Magny-Cours, while NASCAR takes place only in the U.S.
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Examine their respective racing styles. Because F1 cars depend so heavily on aerodynamics, overtaking other vehicles is not a central part of the F1 racing strategy. F1 races tend to be fast but the cars don't frequently change positions. NASCAR, in contrast, relies on overtaking to run and win races. While F1 may have too little overtaking, NASCAR may suffer from an excess, according to F1 Fanatic magazine. Additionally, bumping other vehicles is against the rules in F1 but is permitted in NASCAR races.
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Consider historical differences and their unique origins. F1 in its current form started in 1950, but its early roots are traced to the pre-World War II era, when racers competed on the primitive roads of Italy, Germany, France and other European countries. At first, German and Italian vehicles dominated, but British cars came to be competitive as England's automotive prowess improved. NASCAR, on the other hand, started in 1949 as an exclusively American sport. The 1970s was the burgeoning age of NASCAR, when Carl Yarborough, Richard Petty, and other champions elevated the stature of NASCAR in the American sports world and helped propel it to the top-tier sport that it is today.
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Consider differences in the track. F1 races are conducted on a temporary road course or meandering Grand Prix track. NASCAR, on the other hand, races on paved ovals used exclusively for racing, and organizes occasional road races as well.
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Consider differences in speed and horsepower. F1 vehicles race at an average speed of about 150 miles per hour and hit top speeds over 200 mph but some tracks are faster than others. The horsepower of F1 cars ranges from 850 to 1000. The speed of NASCAR vehicles varies widely depending on the track, as it does in F1. The average speed at Talladaga Superspeedway -- considered the fastest NASCAR track -- is 180 mph, but on the slowest course, the average speed is about 80 mph. NASCAR vehicles have, on average, about 850 horsepower.
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