I'm annoyed about the "greatest" race of the world

AGREED!!! This really pissed me off. Especially the "most views on tv" comment. Oh yea, they say the same stuff about the Super Bowl, how can both be number 1? All a bunch of bs hype.

 

That stuff is too complicated for IRL.

IRL: Beer can holder, XM Satellite Radio, On Star!

 

Weren't they saying that it's the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing"? I'd say it certainly qualifies for that title.

C.

 

Indy is the biggest party you have ever seen, the race itself doesn't usually get good till the last 10 laps or so. It isn't the greatest race of the world but it is one of the oldest if not the oldest.

 

With all the chest-thumping hoopla (celebrities, balloons, bands, the stealth bomber!) surrounding what basically amounts to an open-wheel Nascrap oval race, I'd say that qualifies as a 'spectacle'.

C.

 

Is this the Danica Patrick show? I understand she is a good driver, but would she still be fast if she traded cars with AJ Foyt IV?

BTW - Hey ABC! Don't let the race get in the way of your beauty shots, "Up Close & Personal" pieces, and incessant commercials....

 

Well, she just crashed under caution taking out several cars. Stupid rookie mistake. Now it looks like she's at the back of the pack. I guess she gave too much gas while heating the tires.

 

She is a rookie. I do not think she is F1 material yet. So now I can end watching this pathetic excuse that some actually consider racing!

 

She will never be. Her neck cannot build the muscles to withstand 5g's upon braking.

 

My 23 year-old girlfriend is watching the race for the first time. Multiply her by 2-3 million and yes, it is the Danica Patrick show.

C.

 

I think it's because it's the largest "attended" sporting event in the world.....I believe World Cup Soccer has more overall viewers, but Indy has, by far, the most attendees

Oh yeah, Danica's hot, and sex sells......even if she IS sitting in a COCKpit....

 

This is what's meant by the most marketable driver in the world. People want het to do well and the speedway tends to show favoritism to thier own people(there is a story about a small nitrous bottle falling out of Foyt's driving suit).That being said Danica is a great driver and will have many other chances to win the 500.

 

I generally love all types of racing, and Indy was the first race I ever watched when I was 6 years old. Ever since then I have looked forward to it except for when the whole champ car/IRL rift began, but the racing has gotten much better and I look forward to seeing the IRL race at Sears Point. As for Danica, she's a good driver and was mature enough to admit she made some stupid rookie mistakes, but she came back from them to lead and challenge for the win. I think she'll win Indy within the next 2 years.

Good job, Danica.

 

It's always hard to predit who'll win Indy, Michael Andretti led a boatload of laps, but never won, Mario won only once, led a boatload as well but should have won 5 or so. It is kinda bugging me that people are talking about her great performance which it was, but there were great performances all over the field. They are getting lost in the shuffle with all the focus being on her

 

Please.

To many people, the Indy 500 IS the greatest race in the world. Why get so worked up over an opinion? Just because you think its an "absolute title" doesn't make it any less of an opinionated statement.

You've obviously come to the conclusion for yourself that you don't like the Indy 500 and so you watch other races, which is fine. How offended would you be if someone else came up to you and said "F1 sucks"? Many, many people claim F1 to be the greatest racing in the world. Is that any different?

 

Before the IRL and CART split, Indy WAS the greatest race in the world....but today I would rate the Monaco GP and Le Mans more highly.

 

I'm with Dr. Stu on this.

 

All in all, it was exciting to watch (for me). I actually tuned in to an IRL race for the first time in I-don't-know-how-long. Danica's a cutie, and she's a helluva racer, to boot.

As for the greatest spectacle business....whatever. To each their own.

 

I think the time has come for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
to proclaim as its foremost identity the permanent and
official "Home of the U.S. Grand Prix".

 

I don't care much for the IRL, but I do care about the Indy 500. Regardless of what you think about the race, taken as a whole, it still is "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing".

If I were to pick the greatest race in the world, on balance I'd have to pick the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though it would be better if there were more participation from more auto manufacturers (including, of course, Ferrari).

Regardless of how important Ferrari views F1, I think they should view Le Mans at the same level, since I think a lot of people, worldwide, prefer sports-car racing to any form of open-wheel racing.