Comparisons between the two great events are inevitable but the question still stands. Which is the better motorsports event the Indy 500 or the Coca-Cola 600?
My Background
You might assume that since you are reading this on a NASCAR site that I am biased. However, I have attended the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 each the same number of times (but never both in the same year). I can honestly say that I enjoyed both experiences.
Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Side By Side
- Better Tradition: Indy 500 started in 1911 while the Coca-Cola 600 first started in 1960.
Winner: Indy 500
- Better Pre-Race Show: Indy 500 has a parade while the Coca-Cola 600 has the military blow stuff up.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
- Bigger Purse: Indy 500 will pay out over $10 million with the winner expected to get over $1.5 million the Coca-Cola 600 will pay out $6.5 million total.
Winner: Indy 500
- Race Length: Indy 500 is 500 miles while the Coca-Cola 600 goes an extra 100 miles.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600 More racing is always better.
- Number of Cars: Indy 500 starts 33 while the Coca-Cola 600 starts 43.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
- Better Tailgate Party: This is no contest. Don't even try to argue.
Winner Indy 500
- Types of Cars: Indy 500 has Dallara and Panoz while the Coca-Cola 600 starts Chevy, Ford and Dodge.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
- More Recognizable Event: This is also no contest.
Winner Indy 500
Now we get down to the parts that really matter. How good is the actual event?
- Better Race Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is flat and has one groove while Lowes Motor Speedway is banked with more than one groove.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
- Better Driver Recognition: Indy 500 has Danica Patrick and probably someone named Andretti or Unser while the Coca-Cola 600 has Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and a host of other names that non-race fans would actually recognize.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
- Better Race: 2005 Indy 500 saw 27 lead changes and a margin of victory of 0.13 seconds while the 2005 Coca-Cola 600 saw 37 lead changes and a margin of victory of 0.03 seconds.
Winner: Coca-Cola 600
The Overall Winner
If you are going to the race for the atmosphere, history and the party then the Indy 500 is the place for you. If you actually care about the quality of the racing and knowing who is who then the Coca-Cola 600 is the winner.
I can make a great party anywhere, but I can't improve the race. I'm declaring the Coca-Cola 600 as the winner. However, don't choose! Watch them both! Even if you're at one race set up your TV in the parking lot and watch the other. This is the greatest day in American motorsports and race fans of all kinds are the winners.
