Indy or Charlotte?

Another year and another 1,100 miles of Memorial Day weekend racing has gone by (well, a little shorter than that due to Mother Nature's intervention at The Brickyard).

And again the great debate, which race was better on Sunday - the Indianapolis 500 or the Coca-Cola 600?

I was in Indy covering the marathon and then watched the TiVo version of Sunday's nightcap in Charlotte. From where I sit, both races had plenty of compelling stories, interesting angles, good racing, drama and strategy.

While Indianapolis isn't what it once was, being there - even in the rain - is an experience that makes it something special. The Coca-Cola 600, while the longest race on the schedule, sometimes drones on and really from the times I've covered it, has a tone of just another NASCAR race.

Holding up this year's editions in a side-by-side comparison, I'd have to go with Indianapolis as the best of the two.

And really, unless the 500 continues to erode in the coming years, it'll be hard for me to say the Coke 600 is ever going to one up Indianapolis.

The TV numbers might say otherwise, but the 500 beat the 600 in my book this season.

What do you all think?

Pete Pistone
Posted: 5/28/2007 5:12:00 PM
Comments:
I didn't see the Indy 500. Open whell racing needs a shot in the arm The CART IRL split has been anything but positive. Save for Danica Patrick the drivers in the series could walk down any street in total obscurity..Essentially the Indy 500 is the only IRL race that matters. The rest of the races have 20 car fields. When the checkers fly there might be 3-6 cars on the lead lap...Overall NASCAR has it all over the IRL and Champ Car.....
Posted On: 5/28/2007 5:12:00 PM
I generally agree. The best story out of the 600 was Casey Mears. A driver who did not get the breaks in open wheels racing, but still won on Memorial Day.

The drama at the 500 with the rain was on tops in my book also. Let`s face it, the IRL does not have much to hang their hat on, except this one race. Indy will always be Indy long after the champ cars, CART, IRL and whatever comes next are long gone.
Posted On: 5/28/2007 5:12:00 PM
Indy while not what it once was is still the biggest race in the world. That includes the 600 and the Daytona 500.

Why don't they race the 600 on saturday, why should they change Indy to Monday just so a few Nascar drivers can race.  Do you really think they would come in and have a chance to win? Unless they had a Ganassi, Penske or AGR ride I think not!!!!







Posted On: 5/28/2007 5:12:00 PM
Geez, I don't know. Aren't we comparing apples and oranges? Indy is IRL's premier event (it's only real  event?) while NASCAR has the Daytona 500 as its premier event. Of those two, I'd pick Daytona hands down. As for a race on Memorial Day weekend, Indy still has the cachet, if not the talent.

Someone earlier wrote that Indy ought to run its race on Monday, so as to allow some of the premier NASCAR drivers to compete, thereby strengthening the field. Good idea.
Posted On: 5/28/2007 5:12:00 PM

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