Can F1 and CART compare?

Aug 29, 2002 | 04:47 AM

Accord

Thread Starter

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 6,261

Likes: 13

From: Afghanistan / South Florida / Camp Lejeune, NC

2008 BMW M6, 2008 Ducati 1098, 2008 Ducati Monster S2R1000, 1971 Ducati Scrambler

Can F1 and CART compare?

Great article: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines02/08/s10398.html

Aug 30, 2002 | 09:28 AM

MB-BOB

Admin Alumni

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 8,143

Likes: 19

See Garage

Yes, interesting, but a rather milk-toast conclusion. The evidence offered throughout paints a clear picture that F1 is superior to CART, not only in technology and driver skill, but also in popularity worldwide.

If CART doesn't get its act together, it may not be around in five years. The end of this season will be critical, when we finally see how many teams jump over to the IRL. Sad to say that His Imperial Majesty Mr. Tony George appears to be winning the IRL/CART schism. With its narrow-minded focus on ovals, the IRL will never be comparable with F1, IMO.

Aug 30, 2002 | 01:02 PM

trench

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 2,465

Likes: 0

From: SF Bay Area

2002 C230 K

Quote:

Originally posted by MB-BOB
With its narrow-minded focus on ovals, the IRL will never be comparable with F1, IMO.

I agree, however, I've read that the IRL is considering some road courses in the future. My guess is that these will initially be street courses in places without good oval access; also here in Northern California we have two great road courses (Sears Point and Laguna Seca) but the nearest oval is around 500 miles away. The NASCAR event at Sears Point does well on a shortened version of the full road course - I could see the IRL maybe trying it someday.

It's weird how fast the tide of the battle turned in the CART/IRL war - think back to 1997/1998. CART had four manufacturers, at least 30 cars competing with great racing, while IRL was considered a second tier operation. Within a few years it's practically a spec series. In retrospect, I think the management's decision to jump on the late '90s IPO bandwagon and make CART a publically traded company was stupid. It seems that racing operates better under a dictatorship (Eccelstone, Helton and George) where quick decisions can be made. George's best decision was to allow the CART teams to run at Indy (most sponsors only care about this race, the rest of the season is practically a write-off). This decision, combined with the ineptitude of CART's management (i.e. the engine rules for 2003), will be the daggers in the back that will insure IRL's eventual victory.

Later, BT

Aug 30, 2002 | 02:39 PM

jco-amg

Super Member

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 603

Likes: 0

From: NY

ML 500 Sport

I think you will see a resurgence of CART...Chris Pook is doing a fantastic job with the keeping the turbo spec package...securing the Cosworth engines...the great coverage on Speed/Fox/CBS.

It is still the most competitive series...with the new street races planned this season and next you will see some great action...besides instead of sucking up to that **** Tony George Pook has finally told him to **** off...the best thing to happen to
CART in 3 years!!!....there is nothing more boring than the IRL...look at the ratings on the Indy 500. Look at the attendence figures of any IRL race...empty stands... CART had 50k for Friday practice in Montreal!

Yeah...F1 car quicker than CART cars...they cost at least four times as much and weight almost 1/2 as much...what do you expect? That and they have a tire war going on that is dropping times like crazy...CART was not that far off the pace in Montreal if you factor in the weight and tire differences.

they are really different forms of racing...Right now the most exciting thing in F1 is the last 5 minutes of qualifying...in CART it is the last 5 laps of the race.

And don't count CART drivers out...look at Villenueve and Montoya...after de Matta's test with Toyota in which he was right on pace he said the F1 car was easier to drive.

F1 is a truely an international sport like soccer...you cannot compare it's world wide coverage and popularity with that of CART which really a North American series.

Last edited by jco-amg; Aug 30, 2002 at 02:49 PM.

Aug 31, 2002 | 12:03 PM

Goggles Piasano

Member

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

C230 K coupe Orion blue, Evo, prem leather roof, premium sound and cd changer, auto.

CART vs F1

Michael Andretti was asked that very question in Montreal. Which cars are faster, CART or F1 cars

Michael, without a doubt, said F1 cars are far supperior and faster, by virtue of their technology and the fact that they are at least 400 lbs lighter.

Sep 16, 2002 | 10:50 AM

boltonblue

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 379

Likes: 38

From: middle o' ma

15 AMG S63 4-matic coupe

i was watching a CART race this weekend. A thought occurred to me about the F1 -CART debate. From a tech stand point the F1 stuff is head and shoulders above cart. BUT how many sustained laps on the oval do you think an F1 car could do at say Indianapolis before the big white puff appeared behind it?
obviously this is an abstract discussion since ferrari is unlikely to satisfy my curiousity to blow a motor but I'd give it about 10 laps 15 tops.

Sep 16, 2002 | 11:16 AM

Accord

Thread Starter

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 6,261

Likes: 13

From: Afghanistan / South Florida / Camp Lejeune, NC

2008 BMW M6, 2008 Ducati 1098, 2008 Ducati Monster S2R1000, 1971 Ducati Scrambler

They design their engines to perform specifically on each circuit, so if an oval was added to the season lineup, all of the teams would develop a new engine specifically to perform on that oval.

If McLaren, Ferrari, hell... even Minardi designed an engine specifically for an oval, it would blow away any champ car.