Once again, I’m in Indianapolis for the Indianapolis 500 weekend. And thank God, it was years ago that I decided to stop attending the race itself.
The following observation and/or opinion is bound to incite vehement protests from race fans, but I find auto racing to be just about the most boring sport on the planet.
This may sound odd coming from someone who will watch golf on television all day long. Nevertheless, both in person and on TV, auto racing – be it open-wheel Indy Car or NASCAR – is just plain dull.
Drive fast, turn left. Repeat.
Can’t see the drivers. Can’t tell one car from another apart from the corporate logos.
Auto racing is one of those sports that only get interesting when someone crashes.
And speaking as someone who’s been at the race and watched it on TV, well, it’s even worse in person. The metal bleachers are hell on the lower back and the traffic is just plain hell.
Many years ago, I even attended the time trials, having been convinced by a friend that they were more fun. Then I had to endure other spectators hurling a hateful string of racial epithets at my Japanese girlfriend.
Good times. Good times.
Reminded me of when I used to work security at pro wrestling matches.
The only good thing about race weekend in Indianapolis is that the outstanding collection of public access courses in the city are relatively uncrowded on race day.
The days before and after the race are a bit crazy, though, but it does make for one big party.
Which is a blast, as long as no one makes you attend, or even watch, the interminable race.
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Comment feed for this post
Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
I agree with you that NASCAR is boring, but for different reasons. I think NASCARs remind me too much of cars I see on the street, open wheel racing has more "exotic" looking cars. Indy Car also is more of a science unlike NASCAR which is high speed bumber cars.
All in all I understand what you're saying, but I have to respectfully disagree.
The waitress was getting her Masters at U of M.
And Tucker, don't lump all of us in with the idiots at Indy or in Michigan. A lot of us know how to be courteous and nice to people from different areas of the world.
I will agree with you on NASCAR. I used to love it, now I only watch a few bits of the race. A lot of those old "the races take four hours" jokes are now reality, because NASCAR makes sure that all races take four hours or more with their ridiculous "debris" cautions.
May I suggest motorcycle racing? They turn left and right, there are no pit stops, no caution flags, lots of passing, and, in the case of MotoGP, all of the races are in the range of 20 to 30 laps, lasting about under an hour.
It makes no sence to me why if you don't like Auto Racing and don't keep up with the teams why you would write about it. Thats plan old Stupid.
I don't like Ballet and know nothing about it so I don't sit outside the Ballet theater then write about how I think its boring.
That would be plan old Stupid for me to do.
But you seem to have no problem with doing just that or at the least the last part of that.
I rest Keil's case...