F1 or NASCAR... Who got it right?

Formula1 or NASCAR? Most of the general public is not a race fan. Watching cars circulate around a track seems boring to those who don't see the strategy and drama that will come as the race unfolds. Well this member of the general public is a big fan of racing. I started out watching NASCAR in the days of Cale Yarborough (my all time favorite) , the Allison brothers, Bill Elliot and of course Dale. I would watch the Daytona 500 every year it was on tv. But as I grew, my interests grew. I started watching Indy Car, the 24 Hours of LeMans and yes Formula 1.

Formula 1 is a very expensive sport, teams spend millions on technology, testing and engineering. The very concept of the sport is to out perform your competition on the track and in the garage. Qualifying is based on a three round knockout scenario with cars still in competition on the track at the same time. Teams are given a rule book in the off season that spec's the cars dimensions, power plants and limitations. 12 different teams build 24 cars, 2 for each team with the dream of the Constructors Championship. F1 is an all out as fast as you can driving sport.  My words don't do it justice.

NASCAR is expensive but not on the same tier as F1. They do have a spec car, teams do construct their own but the guidelines are amazingly strict so you are virtually racing the same car as everyone else. Qualifying  is done with no one else on the track and takes your best lap time from said given laps. There could be up to 44 cars on track at the start of the race depending on the venue. There are super teams as well as specialists that run circuits like Sonoma and Watkins Glenn. NASCAR has rules like the "Lucky Dog" and Restrictor Plate which are designed to keep the field together.

I know for me F1 is the sport. The idea that driver and car are allowed to go as fast as they can with out someone else other than your team mate driving the same car is competition. NASCAR used to be that way when I started watching. There were no Super Teams like Hendrick back then. It was Chilldress Racing, Petty Racing, etc.

Right now, F1 has it right. Why would any car driver and or team want to be given a lap back they never earned. If you get passed on the track by the leader it should count as being lapped. Not wait until their is caution flag so you can get said "Lucky Dog".

NASCAR nation may get upset hearing F1 is my choice or they may not even care. But until NASCAR decides to let racers race and teams build a car more freely I have to say its a competition that is similar to who can draw the best circle with a stencil.