NASCAR Drivers suffer from F1 "Monocoque Envy"

[BobHWS]

Today's Wall Street Journal has a sports column (yes, the WSJ does cover more than just business) about how some NASCAR drivers follow F1 very closely. Indeed some of them seem to suffer from a syndrome that I would characterize as "Monocoque Envy."

The WSJ.com is a pay site, so I can't link to the article there, but the column was also published here:

What Nascar drivers wish they could drive
Friday, August 19, 2005
By Sam Walker, The Wall Street Journal
post-gazette.com

Once every summer, Nascar shuts down its traveling show for a weekend and lets its drivers disperse for a few days of rest. When Kurt Busch noticed that this year's break was scheduled for the end of July, the sport's defending champion knew instantly where he would be spending his vacation.

Budapest.

He wasn't after the goulash or the water-skiing on Lake Tisza. Mr. Busch came to see the Hungarian Grand Prix and, more importantly, to gaze upon the objects of his dreams: Formula One race cars. "I am just beyond belief when I look at them," he raved after touring the garage area in Hungary. "I'd love to have the opportunity to try and drive one."

If you've ever fantasized about piloting one of the world's most sophisticated race cars around winding tracks in glamorous spots from Shanghai to Monaco while runway models blow you kisses from behind velvet ropes, you're not alone. Some of the biggest names in Nascar do the same thing... [click on article title above to read the complete article]

[BootsOntheSide]

That title's quite an innuendo. Makes me think of the Teenage Fanclub song Genius Envy - "I only get jealous when I listen to the Beatles".

Seriously, F1 and NASCAR are as different as it gets, although I think most of the respective stars could cross over and do okay. We know that Busch is leaving Roush Racing after this year, and is likely to be the 'factory' Toyota driver in 2007 - maybe he sees himself in their F1 team in 2008?

[Jordi]

It would certainly be interesting. More interchange between series, like before, when drivers raced F2, Indy, touring cars and the Daytona 500.

[RaceFreak]

Driver have become such specialists in the past 20 years. Remember when cross-series drivers were common ? Just IMAGINE the buzz should Jeff Gordon run F1 for a season; or should MS run NASCAR for a while ! Maybe...just Maybe...the fans would become a little broader in their perspective, too.

ahh.....never happen.....