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I watch NASCAR sometimes, but I've always preferred the look and sense of danger of open-wheel racing. I think the IRL has the best open-wheel racing in the world. Despite the glamour, technology, and big money, F1 rarely produces exciting races. In fact, almost never. And, although I'd never underestimate the dangers of a 220 m.p.h. F1 car, the F1 drivers really have it a lot easier than the drivers in NASCAR and the IRL, where they are basically racing wheel-to-wheel in traffic, surrounded by concrete walls, for 2-4 hours.

You're right, though, about the need for American drivers. Since the retirement of the Andrettis and Unsers, the IRL/CART drivers are no-names as far as the general public is concerned. Danica has changed that, but it's just a start.

After what most of the F1 teams pulled at Indy this summer, I'll never follow F1 again. Period.

I watch IRL and NASCAR weekly. In some cases, I think that IRL has even better wheel-to-wheel racing than NASCAR.

However, I really prefer the style of racing that comes down to the driver -- not technology. Of course, there's no such thing as "stock" in stock car racing.

NASCAR is so successful because fans are able to identify with the drivers as personalities....not the cars that they drive. In this regard, for better or worse, Danica Patrick is a net positive for IRL.

As a NASCAR fan, I'll tell you that you and I aren't far apart in our tastes. So many great drivers went back and forth between open wheel and stock cars. AJ Foyt is but one example.

Tony Stewart another. Again, all Americans.