What is the most famous motor race in the world?

[Winston]

Moto Sapiens.

[Gangerolf]

Rally Finnskog

[Cort Haus]

Daytona 500?

Sorry, no-one outside of the US understands NASCAR, let alone could name a race.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Steve McQueen was in a movie about LeMans.

and James Garner was in a movie about Monaco.

[Cort Haus]

and Paul Newman owns half of the top Champ Car team.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by VetLegion
Voted Monaco, but I don't hold it in high regard because of few overtakings taking place there. Although, there have been some memorable ones in recent years.

Local TV stations don't carry the American races. Eurosport does but all I ever catch on it is curling and cycling

The best thing about Monaco is the in-car footage. The scenery rushing by and the close walls are awesome. The races are often processions, but there has been some overtaking at the chicane after the tunnel recently. There is the high attrition, as one error and you're into the wall - no run-off areas to recover in. This can add some unpredictability to the outcome, and cars lower down the grid get a chance to score some points.

For American racing, I like both open-wheel formulas (IRL and Champcar) but until they resolve the split and reunify, NASCAR will reign supreme in the US. I've tried watching NASCAR but I find it hard to follow. I also think the cars look ugly, sound rough, and lack the special thrill of open-wheelers on ovals - which is why I love the IRL and the Indy 500.

As long as NASCAR has its hill-billy image abroad, the Daytona 400 will not be a world-famous race, though the injection of Juan-Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve may generate more interest. If my favourite driver, Dan Wheldon (Indy 500 Champion 2005) switches to NASCAR, I'll definitely be following it closely though.

I voted here for the Indy 500, because of its history, but consider the Monaco GP to be quite close. I actually wish Monaco was less famous, because I hate the celebs who know nothing about the sport all pouring in to 'be seen' there. Yuk.

So far the poll has Indy and Monaco very close, which seems about right. Interesting that the Bratislava Banana Challenge is more famous than Le Mans, though not surprising seeing as endurance racing is so boring. The people who go every year just do so to party. I don't think they pay much attention to the race.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I like both open-wheel formulas (IRL and Champcar) but until they resolve the split and reunify, NASCAR will reign supreme in the US.

Even if the split is resolved, NASCAR will reign supreme among American motor sports. It is already the #2 sport in terms of TV ratings (after American football).

[Spec]

Indy 500

He said in the world you dimwitts, not in the US.



I'd say 24 hour Lemans...Close, but not Monaco...

Why isn't Paris Dakkar in the poll


Spec.

[Cort Haus]

Spec, the Indy 500 is a world famous race, and not just in the US.

[Spec]

Sure.

Spec.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Don't trust a Londoner on whether the Indy 500 is known outside the US or anything

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Don't trust a Londoner on whether the Indy 500 is known outside the US or anything

There's a difference between "known outside the US" and "world famous"

[Spec]

Imo, the Indy 500 doesn't belong in the poll.

Many races should be there instead of the Indy 500.

Woohoo, circles!

Spec.

[Spec]

Originally posted by LordShiva


There's a difference between "known outside the US" and "world famous"

QFT!!


Spec.

[Cort Haus]

Spec, stop making a fool of yourself, and type 'Most famous motor race in the world' into Google. Amongst the articles there are numerous references to the three I put in the poll, and not a single reference to the sodding Paris-Dakkar rally, or the Toronto Turnpike or whatever else you think is big news in motor racing.

Here's an example - from the Castrol web site :

18-19 June 2005, Le Mans
The world's most famous race
The spiritual home of sportscar racing, Le Mans is traditionally regarded as one of the three jewels in the crown of world motor racing, alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500.

Anyway, now Jacques Villeneuve is in Nascar, I'm surprised you didn't join the small band of Daytona voters.