I'm sitting here watching Handball on the USA network... must be the Olympics. At NO other time except during this quadrenial event is handball televised. Handball... Seriously.
Now, I don't want to take away from the athletic accomplishments of the athletes participating in this fine sport, but I have a question...
Why is there NO form of auto racing in the Olympics?
After all, it is the singular most watched sport on the planet. The Indy 500 is the biggest one day sporting event in the world... that's right kids, it is bigger than the super bowl. Internationally... In the US, more people go to an auto race than a baseball game. In Europe, fans line the rally stages of the FIA World Rally Championship, even though they have to drive hours and camp to do so. Formula 1 is bigger than Soccer. NASCAR... Ok, there are multiple races where there are more than 100,000 people that attend the event. 100,000. In fact, in some places the "2nd biggest city" in the state on race day is the track.
Obviously, the sport has more popularity that most of the traditional Olympic sports... combined.
The popular answer is...
It doesn't take athletic prowess. But that only comes from people that haven't raced, or don't follow racing. And don't pay attention to the Olympics. After all, if that is the arbiter, why are there Equestrian events? The rider is just along for the ride. Archery? Sorry, but you don't have to be capable of the 100 meter WALK to participate in Archery. And, Bruce Jenner, winner of the Decathalon at the 1976 Olympics raced SCCA Trans-Am a few years later. He said it was the toughest thing he ever did... that is was physically and mentally demanding.
The other answer is...
It isn't a classical sport. And to that I would say BMX bikes? Or Cross Country Cycling? Kayaking? These sports didn't exist until well after the "Modern Era" Olympics were established. Auto Racing predates first 1896 Modern Era Games, as WAY predates the first Winter Olympics in 1924.
Maybe it's because it is about technology?
But then when we start looking at the bikes, especially the track bikes, or the bobsleds, or the hockey sticks, or the track shoes, or the swimming suits... you get the point. Just about EVERY Olympic event is infused with technology. In fact, it was mentioned earlier today that the British Cycling team spent $30M on technology. $30M will buy some race cars... Of course, it won't touch the budget of a F1 team (about $400M/year), but a touring car team could be fielded... and sponsored.
But let's think about this...
Almost every country has SOME sort of local automotive production. And the countries that don't should... Racing makes the breed better, and the Olympic venue would certainly pressure countries to up the game.
Regardless of the type of racing, it is a true team sport. Builders and Pit crews win or lose races. Drivers are important, but without the rest of the team, they are impotent.
And just how cool would it be to have a few thousand horsepower at the Opening Ceremonies... In order to outdo China's Opening, BigFoot and Gravedigger could be deployed.
And my favorite quote of all time was back in 1984 when the Olympics were in LA. One motoring journalist said that nothing would be more fun than to strap a few Soviet athletes into 800 hp Spint Cars... desinged to drive sideways on dirt. ;^ )
Let's make a petition. The IOC needs to update the Olympics!
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I'd love to hear from you...
Would you keep a team together, or would you put the best pit crew with the best driver? Lots of questions here. Who pays for the team, seeing as to how they already have sponsors? Somehow, I just don't see it, unless they use amateur drivers. Someone has to pay for those cars.
It would depend on what the cars were.
I think that the best first step would be to have a "spec" series, where all of the cars are basically the same with no modifications allowed, or very few allowed. This would be cheap and require very little commitment. It all comes down to driver skill and pit crew/prep crew performance. Almost any country could field a team and it would cost less than many of their other programs.
After that, go to a full blown "meet the rules" series. What would be REALLY cool would be to have multiple events in a short period wit hthe same car, but on different track types (pavement road course, dirt stages like a rally, maybe an oval), both in a timed run and wheel to wheel.
Companies currently pay the bills in most countries through sponsorship. As mentioned in the post, GB spent $30M for their track cycling program. I have NO doubt that GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, MB, BMW, Lotus, Holden, Opel, Porcshe... would all line up to help their countries produce winners.
Obviously, the big favorites for an "unlimited" program would be the US, GB, Germany, Italy, Australia, Sweden, France, Japan, South Korea and South Africa... but there are a lot of engineers that work for the biggies that are from other countries and would love to donate their time and expertise to their programs.
Of course, never discount India, China, Russia and other countries that could divert national resources to that type of program.
It sure would be fun to watch...
Worst case scenario...go Karts! That would be cool! (no, not the cheap little one)
Gregory - Shifter carts could be cool...
Lane, you make a good case for including auto racing in the Olympics -- why not send a note to the Olympics Committee?
Brian - As cool as it would be, it would turn the establishment on its collective ear. Although, adding rally to the Winter Games... That could be cool...
But it would really annoy the IOC for auto racing to over-shadow the rest of the Olympics.