The Races are On

This past Sunday I spent a miserable day trying to watch two of my favorite things at the same time.  The NASCAR and the Indy Car races.

I understand that in many ways they are different sports with each having their own following.  But I’m just a casual fan and I enjoy watching both.  So for me Sunday was frustrating.

The NASCAR race was in Dover, DE and the Indy Car race was in Milwaukee, WI.  Two different time zones, two different tracks, two different running speeds, but both races ended within minutes of each other.

So I had to switch back and forth between the two races trying to watch as much of each one during the last 75 laps as possible.  It was pretty much dividing time equally between the two hoping that I wouldn’t miss any important action.

I was even to the point of hoping that one of them would have a reason to wave the yellow caution flag just to slow one of the race down so that I could spend my time watching the other.  As it turned out, the Indy Car race did have a yellow flag, but it was with only a few laps to go and after the end of the NASCAR race.

Now that I think about it, the Indy Car race had a very disappointing finish.  Because of the late caution, the last few laps were run under caution with the race field positions set.  Watching a race end under caution is really anti-climatic.

This is one thing that NASCAR has right.  If the caution comes out with a few laps to go they will continue the race for two laps under green racing conditions once the track is ready.  At least this way it gives those on the heels of the lead car an chance to overtake him and win the race.