What F1 can learn from NASCAR II
Regular F1 Fanatic commenter Robert McKay has written a guest article looking at what F1 can learn from NASCAR – a subject we’ve looked at here before. Here’s his take on America’s favourite motor sport.
I’ve recently started watching Sky’s NASCAR coverage.
Readers of Keith’s other blog, Maximum Motorsport, will know he’s a bit annoyed that Sky TV chooses NASCAR over the recently reunited Indy Car series for live coverage when they clash. It’s a strange decision given that NASCAR has always proven a bit impenetrable for the UK audience and that Indy Car is more recognisable to F1 followers. But that’s Sky for you.
I’m finding it hard to love, and so I’ll add the disclaimer that this is only personal preference and not an attack on NASCAR…
If you happen to like it, great – different strokes for different folks. In my view, the racing is repetitive, there’s actually too much overtaking. I know, it sounds impossible, when you consider the discussion on the state of racing in F1, but trust me on this.
And it just seems largely random who wins. Yes it’s very complex, and probably there are reasons why this is the case, but the endless full-course yellows effectively randomise most races.
So there are plenty of things F1 should ignore – spec cars with technology that’s years behind road cars, racing on oval tracks, is not going to be very interesting to most F1 fans.
Promotion
However, there are a few things Formula 1 can learn from NASCAR.
First, NASCAR promotes itself extremely well. I think it’s a bit like Premiership football in this country, in that the product is not always all it’s made out to be, but they do such a good job of selling the sport to the media that they and the general public seem to lap it up.
NASCAR is HUGE business in the States. The recent All-Star shootout had a purse for a single race of over a million dollars just for the winner! Because the sport is so well-marketed, there is no shortage of sponsors at all: some teams even rotate the sponsor’s logos on a race-by-race basis because they can sell the space over so many times.
There’s plenty (if not more) money floating around F1, but it seems to evaporate down expensive holes like ridiculously opulent motorhomes, endless, pointless testing, and silly technological “advances” (my favourite being, as Max explained once, the teams continual quest to reduce the weight of the car as much as possible, so they can replace this with the most expensive ballast money can buy).
Formula 1’s attempts at branding itself looks amateurish in comparison. Consider the horrifically expensive carbon-fibre mousemats no-one buys, the struggle to get a new Formula 1 video game on the shelves, and the rather dismal official F1 website.
The drivers
NASCAR puts the driver at the heart of the action: they are the stars, and the personalities to boot. Before the All-Star race there was a segment when all the drivers and their crew are introduced to the cheering public with a huge fanfare.
It was terribly cheesy, but compare with Formula 1: the FIA have taken to putting a naff little photo on the grid graphic before the race, because people have very little feel indeed for who drivers like Nick Heidfeld actually are… as an effort to connect the heroes we see wrestling these supercars around the circuits of the world with the personalities off it, it’s absolutely pitiful. The driver’s parade, where a few uninterested dots miles away stand and talk to each other on a truck moving way from you, is equally naff.
OK the over-the-top approach would probably not work well outside America. But most of the Grand Prix drivers might as well be Top Gear’s Stig for all we see of them without their helmets on. Why not broadcast the drivers’ briefing at a Grand Prix weekend?
Big grids, more races
NASCAR grids are huge, about double F1’s increasingly anorexic fields. Qualifying for a race actually means something – it’s an achievement to get in the field, unlike F1’s process of arranging everyone who turns up.
Many of the drivers will also happily race the Sprint Cup, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series all in the same weekend. It’s roughly equivalent to Raikkonen getting in and driving the GP2 races after F1 qualifying is over, just for the hell of racing. I’m sure most drivers in F1 would love that, and Lewis Hamilton has even said he would.
And NASCAR’s guys are less afraid of having a rant, say what they feel, tell it like it is: something increasingly rare in F1’s ultra-professional, clinical environment.
What I also like about NASCAR is that, with such a big calendar (nearly 40 races), there is scope for changing the format, trying different race structures etc. Yes, it’s artificial, and yes, it’s probably needed as all that oval racing (there are only two road courses) gets repetitive, but wouldn’t it be great to see F1 also having non-championship races, like it did years ago?
Races where the drivers can go out and have fun and not worry about the consequences of a DNF because every point counts in the championship? Races with an opportunity to temporarily change the format, without upsetting the championship?
A couple of non-championship F1 races in the winter months could surely be achieved. Good for marketing, good for racing, good for the increasing number of tracks clamouring for a race… No-one’s looking for a NASCAR calendar – it’s just too long – but if F1 is going to spend so much racing these cars let’s use a few more opportunities.
Television
And while we’re at it, let’s get a NASCAR level of TV coverage.
The ability to follow three of four cars at the pitstops with split-screen coverage, the gaps between drivers updated in real-time, the plethora of extra, rotatable, onboard cameras… these are not and should not be beyond F1, but Bernie seems unable (or unwilling, after the pay-TV debacle of a few years back) to provide this level of coverage.
If there’s a message creeping through here, it’s this: I don’t like NASCAR’s racing – it doesn’t do anything for me at all – and a lot of the things it does get right it overdoes. But if F1 could adopt some of the things I’ve mentioned, even on a much smaller scale, I think the sport would be all the better for it.
Read more about NASCAR and F1:
Steve K said on 22nd May 2008, 22:55
You guys are just killing NASCAR. I never got into it the sport until I started dating a girl from the Charlotte, NC area two years back.
Its a completely different type of racing that has a very American way of doing it–everyone has a chance of winning. There are about 20 cars that can win every week compared to three this year in F1. The end of a race in NASCAR in infinitely more exciting than the end of an F1 race. The cars may be slower in NASCAR, but that is because of the roots of the sport. They are supposed to be Stock Cars (which of course are modified these days, but the root is still there.)
Qualifying is much more important in F1 than it is in NASCAR. Out of 36 races, only two in NASCAR are road courses, however, there are many different types of ovals. From Bristol to Martinsville to Pocono to Daytona to Darlington to Charlotte, all ovals are not created equal. They can be very different.
It seems like F1 is more racing the track while NASCAR is racing the other drivers. Yeah there is a lot of overtaking, but this makes things more exciting lap to lap (until things get sorted out, which makes full course yellows a good thing because it produces side by side racing).
There is always a dead period of watching a NASCAR race in the middle, unless there is a wreck (which is like a plot development in a story), but in F1, the same dead period happens after the first 15 or so laps where the most action happens. After that, you just wait to see how the strategy plays out (a dead period). And I wouldn’t say the winner is random in NASCAR, the best drivers on the best teams win the most races and have the most top 5′s. Look at Jimmy Johnson’s last two seasons.
NASCAR, F1, and Indycar are all great sports, there is just a different attitude one has to have when watching each type of race. Wouldn’t motorsports be really boring if they were all the same?
Steve K said on 22nd May 2008, 23:03
One more thing, if you want high comedy, try watching the two road races. Some of the guys have no clue how to stay on track.
Haplo said on 22nd May 2008, 23:04
Wouldn’t motorsports be really boring if they were all the same?
And that is why we don’t want F1 to level down and start copying nascrap.
Now, this may sound very silly, but you can grab your copy of Nascar Racing Season 2003, or the stock car category on rFactor, set the dificulty to 95~100% and start wining right away.
Try that on GPL, the 1979 addon on rFactor or even F1 99-00 Challenge with everything at 100%.
Nascrap = full throttle, turn left, lift a little, full throttle, turn left, lift a little… And somewhere in between you can yell YEEEEHAAAAW!!! and think of Daisy Duke.
the limit said on 22nd May 2008, 23:30
The one point that I agree with is the one about exposure in F1, especially concerning the internet and sites like Youtube for example.
I find the attitude towards fans using the internet as a means to glean more information about F1 baffling, from a man as successfull and as astute as Bernie Ecclestone.
The one major thing that I do like about NASCAR is the way in which they treat their fans. You can log onto the internet and see straight away race highlights from the previous race, and they are not wiped off swiftly like in F1.
F1 is a very attractive, unique brand. A true ‘WORLD’ championship, unlike NASCAR and the IRL. It’s fans are scattered around the world, on every continent, and in vast numbers. For many, the only realistic means of obtaining information about F1 is on the internet, and there is a huge appetite amongst the fans of F1 to see more race highlights on the internet, recent race highlights.
There is no excuse for banning these highlights. Everybody wants to watch the grands prixs live, as it happens, so I can’t see how it can affect tv ratings?
The almost draconian way F1 supremos handle their loyal fanbase is often disgusting, and unattractive.
Don’t get me wrong, I am no fan of NASCAR, but atleast NASCAR don’t eat their own.
Never forget your core customer, the average, hardworking punter and anorak who lives two weeks at a time, every other Sunday, for the best racing series in the world.
Brakius said on 23rd May 2008, 0:48
One thing you mention Haplo is that F1 is elite. I agree it is, but I also think that it’s the cars and sport in general that make it elite, NOT the driver.
Sure there are always going to be drivers who are much more successful and draw more attention than others. These are the drivers that need to be marketed to help push the sport back to the top spot it deserves.
I’m not sure how thing are across the pond there in the U.K., or othere parts of the world for that matter. But I can’t watch an hour of TV without seeing some kind of advertisement for NASCRAP. It might be an ad for a race, it might be an ad for Coca cola or Pepsi. Either way it’s exposure and fed to the U.S. like candy
All one has to do is look back at history and see what the drivers of F1 used to be. Racing in multiple series, different types of cars and tracks, much more accessible to the media. Sounds a lot like the current setup of NASCRAP. It’s all publicity and that is never bad.
Keep the cars elite, it’s what makes the sport desirable to a lot of people. But athletes are just people doing a job. They just happen to be able to do something most people will just dream of. The lack of public access makes them seem too arrogant.
Fer no 65 said on 23rd May 2008, 3:07
i do like the non-championship races! it would be great if instead of testing at Barcelona every week thousand of km per day, without any interesting thing out of it…
imagine teams travelling to, say, Kyalami, Le Mans, A1, or Brno, even Buenos Aires or Mexico city. Those places where F1 won’t go as a championship, but will go to test AND race for fun the same weekend. I could be great, also drivers taking risks (you won’t see THAT much risky moves, but it will be better than some defensive drives like Fernando in 2005 and 2006)
Also, they will avoid the stupidity of racing a track they have tested sooooooooooo much. Why every race at Barcelona is THAT boring? also for drivers… Because they know everything about the circuit, they keep going there month after month after month after month!
It would be great for fans too. F1 becoming accessible worldwide.
THIS IS AN INCREIDIBLY GREAT IDEA!!!!!!
Steve K said on 23rd May 2008, 3:44
NASCRAP? Maybe you guys aren’t as sophisticated as you think. Arrogant is more like it.
the limit said on 23rd May 2008, 4:04
To Steve K.
Some of these views may appear arrogant, I admit, many openly admit their disdain for NASCAR, but you are on a blog to a rival series to NASCAR. You cannot expect hardcore F1 fans to turn around and applaud, put down their Ferrari flags in exchange for #88′s.
These are the fans of a rival organisation, you cannot force feed them or preach them NASCAR, if F1 is their sport of choice.
Try talking to a hardcore NASCAR fan in some small town in Florida about F1 and you’ll get the same response, and it’ll be in the negative.
Let’s not kid ourselves here, America has given the world many great things, but NASCAR isn’t one of them.
Gman said on 23rd May 2008, 6:06
First off, hats off to Robert for a great write-up!! If you diden’t make it clear in your introduction, I would have thought you were living here in the States for many years!
Steve K, you’ve got an excellent theme going- here’s a toast from a local boy to your mention of Pocono! The funny thing about NASCAR vs. F1 is that here in my area, I do know a solid number of racing fans who eagerly follow both series, and spend all say on Sunday tuning in to both NASCAR and F1, plus the Indy races. Most of us on here obviously prefer F1, and i’m not an avid follower of NASCAR, but both series of racing are entertaining, and they both have pluses and minuses. And in my observations, there’s a good number of Americans who eagerly follow both.
Halpo, I am in no means trying to moderate anything here, but as a humble suggestion, perhaps you should consider refraining from the phrase “nascrap.” Perhaps you may not like it- I’m not a big fan of it myself- but in my book, It’s just disrespectful to those on here who do take an interest in it.
Gman said on 23rd May 2008, 6:10
On one last note…Fer no 65, the non-championship races are a tremendous idea, although I doubt Bernie and his crew will ever agree to anything of the sort. The only glitch with your idea is that I believe the A1 Ring has either been demolished, or is on the chopping block at the moment. Still, great mix of tracks you suggested!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 23rd May 2008, 8:49
Comparing the reaction to this article and the similar one from three months ago is interesting.
I’m surprised how many people are reacting and saying F1 cars should become more like NASCARs (Haplo, Brakius) – because Robert didn’t say they should do that.
Nor do I think the number of races NASCAR drivers do on a weekend has anything to do with the amount of skill involved in driving a NASCAR. The reason F1 drivers don’t do other races on F1 weekends (or most of the rest of the time) is entirely to do with their contracts, as we discussed here.
Gman – Red Bull are rebuilding the A1 Ring, there’s been a rumour it will hold DTM races soon.
tony said on 23rd May 2008, 10:46
Just to mention if one notice the pit crew in the
Nascar pit change those tyres in the time shown eg 15 sec.
unbolting screws from the wheels and bolting them again in
that time.
Rob Ijbema said on 23rd May 2008, 11:27
Nascar sucks…but i love it
there is more happenin in one Nascar race
than a whole season of F1
yellows,pacecars,what is the difference?
i love the wacky commentators,love the tv
footage,inboard camaras,graphics…
the burn out in the end,drivers fighting in the pits,
yes it’s a circus and yes it is fake,but F1 is anal and only interesting if you are involved
would love to see the sun go down
being shaken by the rumbling pack at Daytona.
beats a windy,flat day at Silverstone!
snobs!
Rob Ijbema said on 23rd May 2008, 11:28
hehe
Clive said on 23rd May 2008, 11:58
Excellent article by Robert McKay and very interesting comments on the whole. I think the premise is correct (that F1 can learn a few things from NASCAR) but it may be we need to adapt what we learn rather than just copy. These are two vastly different markets, after all.
This is a short comment, thanks to my current severe case of the man flu, but, if I can gather my energies as I wake, I might attempt a post on the subject later. There are things I want to say but just cannot summon the will power at the moment.
No promises, mind you…