A study in contrasts.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Bristol. This past weekend contemporary, major league motor racing in America was on display for everyone to see.

In one corner we had the August "night races" at Bristol Motor Speedway, the NASCAR circuit's Woodstock and one of the most amazing racing facilities in the world. Rising out of seemingly nowhere, the Bristol Motor Speedway defies typical description, instead it leaves people with a dazed expression and uttering the common refrain of, "you gotta see it... at least once."

The buzz definitely was back at Bristol, as NASCAR's hardest core fans made their annual pilgrimage to see NASCAR's stars square-off against each other in what is racing's most famous half-mile bullring (see more coverage in "The Line" - WG). Were there multiple crashes and mayhem that interrupted the flow of the racing on both nights (the Nationwide Series ran Friday night, Sprint Cup on Saturday night)? Yes, of course. But for the most part the racing enthusiasts who made the trek to Bristol were not disappointed in the least. This is nighttime short-track racing action in America at its most visceral and its most compelling, presented on a glorious stage that is simply riveting to experience. And to see these drivers average 128 mph+ in qualifying for the Sprint Cup race on Saturday night? Simply incredible.

Contrasting that, in the other corner you had INDYCAR at Sonoma Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point, then as the sponsored Infineon Raceway), a road course that has been altered, reconfigured, modified and generally molded into whatever the current thinking was by the powers that be at the time. Now, for someone who is predisposed to preferring seeing racing on natural-terrain road courses, it was almost painful to watch INDYCAR at Sears Point on Sunday.

First of all, the lack of in-person racing enthusiast support for INDYCAR is and continues to be simply shocking. Yes, there were a few fans in attendance at Sonoma Raceway for Sunday's INDYCAR race, but the lingering impression on TV is that INDYCAR conducts its races in a vacuum. It's clear to me that INDYCAR racing has now become a business-to-business sponsorship platform/schmooze-fest. That's fine for the teams who thrive on chasing, getting, nurturing and chasing sponsors all over again throughout the year, but "putting a program together" in racing is one thing. Presenting a compelling racing series is quite another.

This by no means is meant to disparage the drivers, engineers, designers and crew members in the sport of Indy car racing in the least. In fact, the on-track action - except for the gratuitous bumping and banging (memo to INDYCAR drivers: just because you have full bodywork on the back half of the car doesn't mean you should conduct yourself like you're in a stock car) - was excellent. (The viewers were robbed of a Dixon vs. Power duel at the end and that is too bad, for many different and obvious reasons. From what I saw, the Penske crew member didn't do Dixon any favors, and I'll leave it at that.)

But the juxtaposition between NASCAR at Bristol - complete with teeming grandstands and in-your-face on-track action - and INDYCAR at Sonoma Raceway - complete with desolate brown dirt vistas and sporadic fan sightings - was jarring.

I really don't know what it will take to tilt racing enthusiasm back to Indy-type racing, or if it's even possible to achieve that.

But I am absolutely certain that INDYCAR's B-to-B modality is not sustainable, and the days of having one big, important race - the Indianapolis 500 - and the forgettable rest of the schedule are not rapidly approaching, they're already here.

(Nigel Kinrade ©2013 LAT Photo USA)
The Bristol Motor Speedway: Short-track racing action in America at its most visceral and its most compelling, presented on its most glorious stage.

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Photo by Dave Friedman courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
Riverside, California, November 26, 1967. F1 World Champion John Surtees (No. 24 John Mecom Racing Bowes Seal Fast Lola-Ford) at speed in the Rex Mays 300 USAC Champ Car Series event. In his first and only start in an Indianapolis-type racing car, Surtees qualified fourth but recorded a DNF with ignition issues. Dan Gurney (No. 48 AAR Olsonite Eagle-Ford) dominated the race from the pole for the win, Bobby Unser (No. 6 Bob Wilke/Rislone Eagle-Ford) was second, and Mario Andretti (No. 1 Al Dean/Dean Van Lines Brawner Hawk-Ford) finished third. A.J. Foyt won the championship that year. See some photos here.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD