Overtaking in Racing: Is It Really So Important?

One of the biggest topics of discussion or more commonly, argument amongst the most hardcore of racing fans is the issue of overtaking. At one end of the issue, you have the NASCAR train of thought, the more the better. On the other end of the spectrum is the Formula One view where the belief is that overtaking manoeuvres should be hard-fought and well-earned and that having too many spoils the entertainment of the challenge.

But if you really think about it, the REAL issue is more than just the overtaking itself.

In NASCAR, many single races contain more successful overtaking moves than the total number of overtaking attempts, both successful and otherwise, in an entire season of Formula One. But if you take just the NASCAR road course races into account, NASCARlooks a lot more like F1 in regards to overtaking. Even so, a NASCAR road race's number of overtaking maneuvers far outnumber F1's.

As a fan of all forms of racing, from NASCAR to F1 to IndyCar to NHRA to MotoGP, I often find myself wondering why I've never been able to side with either train of thought on the matter. But as I sat in the grandstands at Mid-Ohio attending my first ever American Le Mans Series race this past Saturday, it finally clicked in my head.

Why is it that the two sides of the debate focus on the overtaking itself, rather than what REALLY matters?

What is it that really matters? The OPPORTUNITY to overtake.

By throwing the IndyCars into the mix, we can get a clearer picture on this. The IndyCar Series gives us information to glean into both sides of the debate.

Critics of the NASCAR train of thought claim that just sailing past with ease is meaningless and boring. Critics of the F1 view claim that lack of position changes turns the race into a boring parade.

In a way, both are right, and both are wrong.

The IndyCar Series rarely has the "sailing-by with ease" style of overtaking that many feel NASCAR's oval tracks produce. For sure, the IndyCars show that a good hard-fought passing move is more exciting than just sailing by you opponent thanks to a good draft.

The IndyCar Series also shows, however, that a fair amount of overtaking is needed to spice up the race as well, and that you can do this while still making them hard-fought and well-earned.

So what can be done to fix the two series and settle the debate? Well, in all honesty, nothing.

The debate will always go on, because my opinion certainly will not sway many people. To most active members of the debate, it is really just the ramblings of a man who refuses to choose sides in the matter.

Plus, with the NASCAR train of thought usually placing the IndyCars in the same boat as F1, they probably won't see much of a revelation in the way I look at the series.

But there is no doubt about one thing. F1 has a big problem that puts a target on its back, not only for NASCAR fans to shoot at, but for disgruntled F1 fans as well.

And that is Formula One's MASSIVE performance gap. Many people cite the aero-package as F1's biggest problem, making it impossible to run nose-to-tail for drivers to get a chance to overtake. But that certainly doesn't benefit NASCAR on the road courses, nor did it overly benefit Champ Car in its final year. Though in Champ Car's case you may be able to put that down to what became Power-not-to-be-Passed.

The IndyCars have the same aero problem as F1, as did Champ Car before the implementation of the DP-01 in 2007. But still, they had more overtaking moves over a race than F1 has. And ALL of them are the hard-fought well-earned overtakes that F1 fans want.

All F1 needs to do is close the performance gap somehow. Preferably in a way that doesn't betray the principle of innovation F1 is supposed to carry. They don't need more successful overtaking. But if they want to continue their reign as the world's top motorsport, they need to increase the chances of it.

And personally, I doubt making the cars able to run really close together will help when most teams don't even have cars quick enough to REACH the front runners.

NASCAR has passes that are occasionally too easy. F1 has problems with creating opportunities. Two very different series, two very different problems.

In the end, is overtaking important? Yes. Overtaking is VERY important.

But the opportunity to overtake is FAR more important. A failed attempt to overtake is better than no overtaking attempts, after all.

This debate will never end. Not as long as F1 and NASCAR exist. But those of us who simply sit in the middle ground and plug our ears and ignore the arguments need to unplug our ears, and have a good laugh about how off-base the debate really is.