Which is Better the Indy 500 Or the Coca-Cola 600?
Saturday May 26, 2007
The Sunday before Memorial Day is a great day for American motorsports. Two of the greatest oval track events in the world roll off back-to-back on the same day. Today race fans across the country will pull up a chair in front of their televisions and enjoy 1,100 miles of great American racing.
Which event is better? Here is a look at the finer points of both races.
Comments
Indy of course.. nascar has penis envy with the (”600″ ours is “bigger”)
My self i like the nascar race over indy cars.
coca cola 600 is better than indy 500.
ilike nascar better then indy
I like the coca-cola 600 better. I grew up watching Indy but it has changed to much for me to enjoy it any more.
Now for HRC-R-HC=JOKE, you must not keep up with your Nascar news very well because one of those women that is racing in the Indy 500, Nascar owners tried to get her to start racing in Nascar!!!!!!!! So don’t put the women drivers down because they are women if they weren’t good enough they would not be in the show!!!!!
In NASCAR if you wreck you repair the damage and continue but Indy cars you wreck and you are done for the day.
Going to rain in Indy tomorrow.
Susan, Thank you for your concern, however I have been watching NASCAR news, and I know whom you are referring too. By no means was I trying to put the women down, yes they can drive. However, if you kept up with the Indy news on wind tunnel, and few other places you would have known what I was talking about.
The coca cola 600 by far, and day over indy cars. And Go Jeff
Nascar of course…Go Kasey Kahne!!!
Back in the day I would have said Indy, with Rutherford, Mears, the Unsers, Foyt, and guys like Gordon Johncock, Tom Sneva, and Johnny Parsons. Then Indy went to people Americans do not know and now women who support Dictators in Venezuela. Nascar has taken over in recent years, but who knows, with their new COT’s, they may hand it back to Indy. The open wheelers should jump at the chance and capitalize on NASCARS blunder.
Its no blunder.These so called stock cars are not stock.Back when I raced NASCAR you could go to a dealer,get a car,install roll bars and go racing.You could drive it to the race and then [if possible]drive it home.They had real bumpers and fenders not fab.
Gene, you say the COT is no blunder, then talk about the old days when you “drove”. The COT is the furthest thing from when you “drove” yet you defend the damn things. I think the COT will prove to be a blunder by NASCAR, and I’m not alone in that opinion.
Why is this even a question? Indy 500 obviously, though I am not an Indycar fan, I’ll watch it. I’ll be watching the 600 too.
the 600 by far for right now anyway. but nascar is rapidly approaching the time when indy split off. the cot will probably do me in and make me switch my preference back to indy cars.
No question THE 600 I do agree nascar is approaching to Indy league. Same style, same engine. Local tracks will prevail again.
thekingcobra63 you hit it on the head.Nascar was blowing the doors off of Indy car. and you are correct in saying Nascar has just give it back to Indy. The excitement in Indy car is falling. They need to make amends with Cart and they both need to put it back together or it will just get worse. I pick Indy
The Indy 500 is a tradition in my family we watch the 500, eat good BBQ, drink alot of beer.Then we watch the 600, eat more BBQ and drink alot more beer.Asking what race is better is like asking whats better beer or BBQ,both go hand in hand a memorial day tradition. You can’t have one without the other.So in my humble opinion Altho im a die hard NASCAR fan they are equal for just one weekend.God knew what he was doing when he made racing,bbq,and beer flow freely for one day.Support our heros past and present this weekend.God bless all that are overseas and at home.
coke 600 is way better indy is boring but i will wath the last few lapsof indy.
What is it with people and their beer? you see these clowns on TV as soon the camera shows them they have to hold up their beer bottles. And We eat and drink lots of beer. So what! What is the purpose of broadcasting to the worls about beer? I like a beer now and then but I don’t tell the whole world about it.
not even close the 600 by far
250,000 people say your all wrong!It’s like going to the kentucky derby or a dog track. I’ll take the derby!
Hands down!!
NASCAR is far better!!
Does it matter? how often can you see 2 races in one day. by the way, why didn’t Formula one get mentioned in this topic. They are racing in Monoco the same day. that means three races. what a day!!!!
It’s not the beer Jim it’s the combination like caramel and apples.Beer goes with BBQ, Memorial day goes with INDY and Coca Cola,Husbands go with wives,don’t get hung up on the beer its just a comparison. But if beer was so bad fo you should i have said peanuts and coke? Sir you get the drift and like it or not you will watch both eat a bbq shoulder and have a beer
Oh how bout salt in Dr Pepper?Jim you got hung up on the small stuff.God bless all our heros past and present sir!!!!!!!And god bless you and Beer.HEHEHEHEHE
Lane, what are you talking about? Do you often go and ramble like that? I just ask a simple question why people make a big fuss over beer. I guess you didn’t read all of my comment. I said I like a beer now and then. I never have figure out why adults make a big thing about it. As teenagers when we sneak a beer we made a big deal but now? Did you say I will watch both races or did I misunderstand? I have not watch a indy race for 18 years and then it wasn’t the whole race. I will agree with a good BBQ. Small stuff? It’s all small stuff. Have a good hoilday.
Nascar of course. I am big fan of Hendricks and Jeff the most.
To be honest, I wold like to see the Indy cars make a comeback as well as NASCAR stop their slide into the abyss of the COT. It would be great to have two types of racing capturing our interest. Yes, I forgot to give props to Formula one as well, Monaco would be a great event to see live. Anyway, lets all hope for some great races this weekend and everyone finish in good condition!
Why does everybody making a big deal about what the COT looks like? It has the same drivers same tracks. The cars has a wing on it. BIG DEAL. If I remember right I have seen models of a car that Richard Petty drove with a wing. As long as the car is not an open wheel car it will stay Nascar. We are fans we are not the drivers of these car I for one hope Nascar keeps putting safety first in their cars I don’t want to lose any more drivers like Dale Earthart. With his death and the death of other drivers Nascar has put safety first and that is what the COT is, SAFETY!
Cot is not any safer than the other cars could be if nascar would allow it. One of the biggest reasons for this cot thing is nascar can make more money for themselves. You really dont think they designed it and just gave it away or gave it to the teams at cost? I liked Sr however he did not pay attention to the manufacture req. on his saftety equipment, that is the big reason for his death. Yes it’s the same drivers and same tracks, people like their cars to look like cars, and not like the same box. IROC cars looked like real cars, but they were the same kind just like the cot crap, and look at it now. Yes petty had a wing for a year or two. Then again at that time All the cars looked like if they came off the showroom floor. Spoilers and all on the out side. safety on the inside. That still should be the case The cars should look like if they came off the showroom floor on the outside, but with the safety of today’s cars. You are correct safety should be always first, In nascar eyes only if they want it.
I think both race’s have there moments of fame…It’s not really fair to have to compair them,they are totally different types of racing.Indy has more speed..Nascar has tighter racing…Im just happy to be able to watch them both!
When nascar starts running at an average speed of 225 mph then I will vote for the 600, until then I will go with the Indy cars.
P.S. But I will still watch both races.
Indy has tradition, but those races [open wheel] look like a high speed caution lap, too little passing. Nascar is heading that way, but is trying to solve the problem. I like the 600 because of the attrition rate after 500 miles. [thats all these cars are made to last]It’s not just speed, but durability as well. It’s what makes this a unique race.
I agree with Murphy, speed is the game. Nascar has become almost “sissyfied” and starting to get very boring to me. I still enjoy both. What Id like to know is wheres all the lady drivers??? hammer down girls!
600 OF COURSE!
225? nascar has ran 210-212 in the late 80’s I believe until nascar put a stop to it. That was 17-18 years ago just think what it could be now? What good is 225 when they just follow the leader? Very little passing just watch cars go around and around thats it. You are right murph nascar is getting that way too. 500 is a tradtion alright, but if it’s not carefull it wont be much longer. With indy and the irl stuff.
Looks like out of 40 responses so far…NASCAR is leading Indy…By ??? car lengths…Now this comparison could be called a race couldn’t it. Where are all the Indy Fans at? That’s right…they’re really aren’t that many anymore…The real comparison should come in with the ratings…let’s see for real who wins the comparison race…My bet is on NASCAR…but I’m biased…I wouldn’t be suprised if Indy puts up a good fight with the ratings numbers for the 500…but they can’t seem to sustain those ratings or ratings that could keep them on a major network with all their races…What’s up with that? NASCAR wins that one by a mile!!! But will NASCAR 600 beat Indy 500 in the ratings…Let’s watch ratings race and see which wins…I just love races…Don’t you??
Indy or Nascarr, well i”m 50/50 both series have gone down hill in my opinion (Indy since spitting with cart) and Nascar since the 70’s and 80’s) I can reacall two cars banging off each other for laps on end for position and now they get black flagged cause its rough driving. I still watch them but my local track takes priority.
I like auto racing period. But being a country boy, I’m going with the 600.
Besides… I can’t wait to see how long it’s going to take J.P. Montoya to wreck somebody.
I like both races nascar is much better to watch on tv. But Indy is the best if you are going to the track.
I am watching both, but it needs to seop raining for Indy. I want Patrick to win for us women.
As a fan of all kinds of racing, Indy 500 beats the Coca-Cola 600 by far. Indy is the world’s biggest race. Coke 600 is just NASCAR’s longest. Indy usually doesnt take too long to run (except when it rains). Coke 600 takes 4-5 hours. However on any other day, I watch NASCAR over Indy. Just for the record, on the rare occasion NASCAR interferes with F1, I just tivo F1 because ussually, I never see the results anywhere.
Well Indy is over and not who I wanted. Nascar is still going but lost my driver already. Not a good day for racing I see.
I can’t even believe this is to be compared.Nascar any day …or I would love to see nascar everyday..Indy can wait…no comparison.
Nascar and the Coca Cola 500 of course. I hate to say it but Indy sucks.
Stupid question,which do you like apples or oranges, they’re both fruit…
NASCAR of course!
Its simple… Race cars do have doors! even if they don’t open and you have to climb through a window! Real drivers drive cars that can take a rub.
NASCAR is more popular than Indy right now. Did not used to be true. But NASCAR is going the route of all the other sports–big business, money, and greed. Not so much the drivers, but the sponsors. Too commercialized. Every race named for a sponsor, just as they have done with stadiums. Drivers being “used” with so many public appearances, not to fraternize with fans, but to make money for sponsors. NASCAR hit its peak in the late 80’s/early 90’s, and has been going downhill ever since. Another 10 years and they won’t be filling the stands for every race.
In my day it was the Indy 500, hell 300,000 people would show up for he 1st day of qualifying. But then their was the split with Cart and it was all over.Still on this one day it eqaual. Hard to beat 11 rows of 33. It on comes once a year.
I Definately like nascar better. it’s marketed a lot better and there is a lot more personallity there than in indy racing. If it wasn’t for Danica , there is none. but does anyone else have an issue with the tire squeal from the harder tire nascar is using , or is it just me? IT’s like watching a race on tv chewing on a mount full of ballons.
The 600
Nascar has changed over the years, but so has the IRL. If they keep going in the direction they are goine they will meet somewhere in the middle.
The Indy 500 is the only race left where the IRL gets a decent turnout in both fans and participants. If the IRL is to remain a viable sport they need to build more interest on both the fan and team side of the sport.
INDY RACING COULD NEVER MATCH THE EXCITEMENT OF THE COCA COLA 600. NO ONE KNOWS OR IS FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE INDY RACERS…MOST OF WHICH SEEM TO BE FOREIGNERS THAT YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING NOR CAN YOU TELL ONE INDY CAR FROM ANOTHER AS THEY SPEED HAPPILY AROUND THE TRACK. I WENT TO THE FIRST BRICKYARD AND SWORE I WOULD NEVER TORTURE MYSELF INTO GOING TO ANOTHER RACE AT THAT TRACK. THE CROWD IS JUST TOO MUCH.
THE COCA COLA 600 WINS IN MY BOOK HANDS DOWN.
Actually, both are terrific races depending upon *Who* is doing the broadcasting and whom they are trying to attract to each race. With the broadcasting crew, Nascar put in charge for Coca-Cola 600 race, the 600 could *WELL BE* the best attraction for general public, over The Indianapolis 500 mile race. As for sophistication wise, The Indianapolis 500 has the Coca Cola 600 totally bet out. And, here w/me being an Indianapolis man, I prefer the Coca-Cola 600 over the *500*. Thrill-wise, the Coca-Cola 600 has the Indianapolis 500 totally beat.
The two races are in completely different leagues and rightfully should not be compared to each other. I like both.
I grew up watching the Unsers,and Andrettis. I watched both races There were four Andretti’s in the Indy and they faired well enough.A few years back I went to Laguna Seca to watch the Indy car race and I thought I showed up for the motorcycle race those things dont sound like the cars I have built or rebuilt for the road. When I had the opertuninty to work on the remodel of Sears point(when it changed to Infineon) I was fortunate enough to witness a test session of Hendricks motor sports and those cars have the high horsepower V-8 sound to them and the rubbing and competitive spirit of nascar won me over. I became a sr. fan because he raced to win whatever he had to do to win he would do. The combination of sound and fight won me over.I have since turned down tickets to Laguna Seca. And bought my own tickets to Infineon. So even though I watched the 500 I waited for the 600.
NASCAR is the bomb.
Nascar is the number 1# racing sport in America ! Indy racing has people from everywhere but here in it !!!!!!! I rest my case !Go Dale Earnhardt Jr. ps. We have better parties too!
Sorry to get on so late, we was out of town Memorial Weekend. Left this stinking computer, cell phones, and everything else at home!!! WEEE HOOOOO.
Anyway “Coke 600 or Indy 500″ Face it folks, the real question Should Be!
‘INDY 500 or DAYTONA 500″!!!! now thats a toughy HUH?
If your not sure,(Talladega Nights) was a big laugh in your face! But you watch it every night and think it’s cool. WOW!
What is an Indy? I think we studied that in school once but that was 35 years ago so don’t remember.
Nascar Drivers get to kiss the girls. Indy, they get to drink Milk..Personally, I much prefer girls over Milk anyday…:))
Boogity Boogiity Boogity Race Fans!!!!
NASCAR is the big deal in Motorsports. With the exception of the Indy 500, one would believe open wheel racing in this country gets lower TV ratings than hockey.
Give me NASCAR any day!!!
NASCAR IS THE BEST I HAVE WATCHED INDY ONCE IN A WILE BUT THE RACE IS THE 600 24 FAN FOR EVER
hochey = Indy 500 = golf = bowling all about the same in watching them on TV.
The Indy race is a great tradition. I remember my Dad and Uncles always getting together on memorial day to listen to the Indy 500 on the radio, so I think it should be run on the traditional day. The Coca Cola 600,well, we attended it last year and when you are seating in those stands it makes for a very long race, but we are real NASCAR fans and we love it.
Comparison…what comparison, its a “no brainer”, the COCA-COLA 600!! NASCAR compared to Tony George’s IRL, at least NASCAR is growing! Look at the 33 car field at this years INDY…basically its the same chassis and all Honda powered! The team with the “Bucks” are the winners. In NASCAR, just look at the range teams have and the flexibility in race winners and Champions. Oh,and especially with both FAN and TV support, the IRL doesn’t even come close! I used to watch the INDY 500 with a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on the door, since T.George look over, I read the results in the newspaper the next day. With NASCAR, its “on-line” with SpeedTV on Friday right through the broadcast on FOX Sunday, then recap with USA Today Monday!
Both Great Races but I’ll take the INDY 500. When both were on TV at the same time and you were able to look at each race the INDY car racing was much better.
Hate to tell you gary nascar is no longer growing. It’s starting to loose fans. Yes it’s better than the indy/cart. Nascar is the same as the indy/cart the teams with the money wins. Not that many different winners lately, look at this year.
nascar has better drivers as well as more excitment
Years ago the Indy 500 had it all over the 600, but as the split happened in Indy cars and the “IRL’ (hee hee) was born(?) the 600 took over and hasn’t looked back, the racing is better, cars were made to have wheels inside of frame,and the better drivers were in nascar plus the irl kept tripping all over itself, up in N.h. they were thrown out because the owners whom I know have made this track better but I’d rather see another 3/4 mile like Richmond (which is my fav. track ) now back to 500 or 600 …….it’s the 600 by miles and not those extras run, thank you and keep up your great reporting on NASCAR
I find open wheelers more exciting to watch EVEN WHEN THEY’RE ROLLING BEHIND THE PACE CAR! than stock cars under any circumstances. The ferocity and agility of their movements makes stockers look like rolling oil tankers.
Both races are excellent, It’s the TV coverage that sucks for Indy. No ongoing stories of what happened the week before. No extra channels to watch in car cameras, no in car audio. It’s the Danaca Patrick show. I like her, but give it a rest Basically ABC\ ESPN sucks & has a lot to learn again from Fox.
Are you kidding me?? The Indy 500 (and open wheel racing in general) is WAY better by far. It’s really no comparison. Right now Nascar is more popular…I’ll give you that. But Nascar in general is nothing but a glorified demolition derby. All you need to run in Nascar is a driver with at least 4 teeth, a hammer, duct tape and some gasoline. Very little skill or talent is needed when all you need to do is literally push other cars out of the way. Where is the driving skill in that?!?! Forget about money for a moment and ask yourself if a stock car driver could move to open wheel and be successful. The answer is emphatically “NO” because in the IRL you actually have to DRIVE the car instead of just hitting everything on the track and bouncing your way up to first. Do you know why some drivers go from IRL to Nascar (besides the money)?? Because it is EASIER DRIVING!! Indycars go about 50 MPH FASTER than stock (hehe) cars. Try running 230 mph and not hitting the person 24 inches to your left. Nascar drives would not be able to do this which is why none of them make the switch.
The “neck”car circuit (referring to “red-neck” for all you hillbilly, uneducated, hick-ville, in-bred nascar fans) is on its decline. IT IS THE MOST BORING RACING EVER and people are losing quickly losing interest in it!!! I would rather (and have done) watch paint dry instead of watching a “Snooze”CAR race. That’s not the case in the IRL where the racing is as exciting as it’s ever been.
Agreed