Why Americans prefer NASCAR to F1?

Answer 1

the tailgating party's and the drama with the nascar drivers. lol

Answer 2

The actual reasons are probably many. Marketing and history and just what seems "familar" to the fan all come into play. However, I think some of the comments here bear out a couple other issues not mentioned.

NASCAR as it stands now is essentially a spec series run on an oval. This is a recipe for close racing where passing requires drafting and a willingness to drive higher and higher up near the wall. As such it's also a recipe for often spectacular crashes, and many lead changes - both of which play very well to the casual fan. Which ultimately makes it more accessible to people that might not otherwise watch.

Watching F1 can be more akin to a pitcher's duel in baseball. The homeruns may be more exciting for a casual observer, but the game within a game of the pitcher's duel can be fantastic for someone that appreciates that aspect. Likewise, watching someone work to setup a pass in F1 can be a beautiful thing. But it's is not accessible in the same way to a casual observer.

It doesn't help either that many of the safety changes in track layout and regulations aimed at cost cutting and parity have made those chances for passes more rare.

The fact that NASCAR is as it is, means that when someone is drawn in by it's very good marketing, they are likely see something close to what they have seen in the advertising highlights. When they turn into F1, chances are they may just get lucky and see one of the few races in a year that is accessible to a casual or new watcher, but most likely they will see something that is nothing like the ads. Fortunately we have both forms to enjoy, whichever one happens to have our interest (or maybe even both).

Answer 3

There are a ton of reasons that could be sited here, but just a few stick out to me.

First is the personality and social class that many drivers come from. They are often very much like their fans in how they talk, think, act, etc. Also, they ususally come from a middle-class family, and Americans tend to gravitate toward people who are more like they are.

Second is the action on the track. Being an Indianapolis native, I know how different numbers of cars affect a race. In the Indy 500, there are 33 cars, but in the Brickyard 400, there are 43, and there are only 21 in the F1 race, I think. The more cars the more chance of passing, bumping and most importantly huge pile-ups. In an F1 race the passing is a very calculated, precise thing, which to a trained eye can be extremely exciting, but to an average joe can be painfully long.

Last, the amount of media attention changes things. Nascar is on all the time during their season, but F1 is only on during qualifications and the race itself, if it's on at all. The ease with which you can go to a NASCAR race compared to an F1 race also makes it more desirable for an American motor head.

Answer 4

Come to think of it, are any racing series that run mostly on road courses popular in America?

NASCAR is marketed aggressively in the United States. It is on network television stations on Sunday afternoon. The drivers are, for the most part, from the same socio-economic background as the people watching at home (which is why, even though many drivers are multi-millionaires, fans still feel like they're "one of us"). Oval track racing produces a much different show than road course racing. The cars bear a passing resemblance to street cars. Plus there's the whole Chevy/Ford/Dodge rivalry that dates back decades. NASCAR is perceived as a driver's series, where the best driver wins any given event.

F1 doesn't have nearly as much market recognition here as NASCAR. As far as I know, F1 racing is only shown on SPEED in the US, a channel which many people in America don't subscribe to. The races often come on at odd times of the day. The cars don't look like anything Americans are use to. The drivers seem to be of such a higher economic status than most American race fans that they can't relate to them as people. The perception is that F1 is all about the technology of the car, not the ability of the driver.

It is ironic that you asked this question, because in many ways, NASCAR is modeling itself after F1. In fact, the two series have more in common than most NASCAR fans realize. Ironic, then, that the more popular series in America is modeling itself after a series that isn't as popular in America. Perhaps NASCAR is looking to challenge F1 on a world stage?

Over the last year, however, television ratings and track attendance have been declining. So it may be that the things Americans don't like about F1 will soon be the things they don't like about NASCAR.

Answer 5

Market Saturation, NASCAR bought SPEED Channel, they have contracts with the nations biggest corporations. Nascar is alright but every car is the same and so is every track. Classic Nascar, where the cars were actual cars was way better.
F1 is better but personally I would like to see WRC become the American motorsport, cars with a real world underpinning, serious horsepower, and extreme differences in design and approach, tracks you could replicate through public roadways, There's alot of pavement/grave/dirt roads over hills through forest here in Michigan.
And the overall atmosphere is so unequivocally American; go camping for the weekend, prop up some lawnchairs insanely close to the track, and drink beer and eat barbeque all day while watching cars e-brake corners and rip off axles and slam into trees at high speed.

Answer 6

I guess since Nascar is more popular than F1 in the U.S but I like both.

Answer 7

I like all racing venues, but formula cars are like watching golf. very little or no passing. and if champ and irl never pull their head out of the sand they'll be the same. would you rather watch 16 cars 3 minutes apart or 43 cars .5 second apart. in nascar they can lean on each other and still win a race. in formula 1 your multi million dollar car is done. It's ironic, soccer(futbol) is a rough and tumble sport and #1 around the world, but europeans prefer to watch this two hour bore-a-ton.

Answer 8

The American dream is to blame here...
the idea is that these are cars you could potentially drive yourself, and this feeds the illusion of the Great American love affair with the automobile.

Also, what other sport take these Billy-Bobs out of the corn field and gets them to form some incredible teams in a sport where they change the rules for every game and all 43 teams are on the field at one time?

It is some pretty good entertainment, come to think of it!

WooHoo!

Answer 9

Probably because they're more exposed to NASCAR than Formula 1. I'm actually a fan of all types of racing.

Answer 10

some time american are just diffrent. they have diffrent sports that no one else likes.
if u are comparing nascar to f1 just look at these f1 picture and videos and then decide.
http://www.mclaren.com/interactive/wallpapers.php
and for those who thinks that f1 drivers are not talented just watch teh following videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STDAp-KG6CU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK_S9pTs6r0&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l__QyVhqtvQ&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLoyLo7iQLU&mode=related&search=