Driver Comparison - CART vs. F1

Jim Richards · 06:51 PM

I'm watching the CART race on SpeedTV and I was amazed by some of the stunts (jumping the start, blocking, backmarkers taking out contenders at corners, etc.) the drivers were pulling. I think F1 drivers are more disciplined (exc. Ralf Schumacher on public roads!). What do you think?

speeder · speeder's Garage

Jim, I voted "no way", when asked if he would ever consider racing CART, M. Schumacher dismissed the idea out of hand. Said, " they are too slow to be fun".

Adam · Adam's Garage

I once read an interview with Michael Andretti, who admitted that he just couldn't adapt to F1's incredible cornering speeds and short braking distances. That said, I believe that both versions of racing are incredibly physically demanding, but the F1s are harder on drivers than CART.

But, from memory, F1 cars don't reach the same top speeds CART cars do, but they're quicker in terms of accelleration. On a fast track, an F1 car will sometimes get to around 210-215mph, where a CART version may reach 220-225mph. I heard that during qualifying, a CART car reached a peak of 240mph and after that the drivers started complaining about safety requirements.

Jim Richards · 03:05 AM

Interesting comments. Yesterday's CART race was the first I've ever watched. I was stunned by the bonehead moves the mid-pack and back markers made. Stuff like a back marker that's multiple laps down, coming into a slow corner way too hot, off the line, tried desparately to brake, and taking out a competitor that was in contention for points. *****, it looked like Saturday night at the local KART track. Pun intended! Totally unprofessional driving. Sadly, this kind of thing happened multiple times in the same race.

BGCarrera32 · 07-28-2003, 09:32 AM

Another thing I find silly in CART is when somebody spins, locks up the brakes, whatever, the caution flag comes out...the whole field slows...all the ground you've gained as the leader is lost. In F1, there's a big crane or something in the hot spots, you spin, they pick your sorry rear up and lift ya outta the way...too bad dude you're done now, and on with the rest of the race. They also make CART pit stops look comical...

Remember when both Mansell and Zanardi came over to CART from F1?
And cleaned everyone's clock their first years here (repsectively)?

Reg · 07-29-2003, 07:49 PM

Jim

This year is a bad ( and possibly the last) year for CART. The talent pool has drawn doward with many teams and drivers switching to the IRL series which brought in a good share of young and inexperienced but wealthy drivers.

Also, the Vancouver track is a narrow, mickey mouse wanna be track what is known as a street circuit. I call it downright Dangerous.

If you want to see a good race, watch them at Mid Ohio or Road America. Cleveland (already run a couple of weeks ago) and Montreal (F1 circuit) are also fun to watch.They may be adopting standing starts in the near future as well.

Michael Andretti could have done better in F1 if he had put his mind to it. I am not sure i'd say a champion, but could have won races.

As far as F1 drivers cleaning house over in CART, I believe most of that comes down to the team they are with. Mansell was with Newman Haas, Zanardi with Ganassi, both coming off or past championship teams.

In both series, it realy comes down to who has the best ride. The top 10 in either series are very, very, good.