Monaco GP vs. Indy 500 comparison test

This afternoon offered a rare opportunity to view two iconic races at the same time. The Indy 500 was on ABC while TSN had a tape delayed Monaco F1 race on. What's the better race?

Geography

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a two and a half mile oval in the Midwestern plains. Boring. The Monaco street circuit has hills and tunnels and scenic vistas. Monaco wins hands down.

History

This was the 99th running of the Indy 500, but only the 86th running of the Monaco GP. Indy wins.

Speed

No contest. Indy is flat out at 220 mph all day. They rarely top 175 at Monaco.

Drivers

The guy who won Indy today has also won Monaco. Monaco had the youngest driver, Max Verstappen at 17 year old, and the world's best-paid driver, Lewis Hamilton. That gives Monaco the edge on the human interest factor.

Social Relevance

One of the cool things about car racing is it doesn't pretend to have any. It's just another circus to keep us amused when we should be doing more constructive things with our time.

Crashes

This is the main reason people watch motorsports, and Indy had more of them. Also, at Indy you can see more of the track from the grandstands, so the odds are better.

Conclusion

Even though Indianapolis is faster and has more crashes, there's something appealing about Monaco. Those yachts in the yacht basin at the edge of the track, the beautiful buildings in Monaco; it's the more aesthetically appealing venue for sure.

I'd call it a tie.

Canada pension plan embraces Big Bernie and Johnny Death

Oh my f-ing gawd. Have things actually come to this?

The Canada Pension Plan is putting it's faith in Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt, the masterminds of Bernie's multi-billion dollar car racing empire.

My pension now rides with Sebastien Vettel and Lewis Hamilton?

Fuck me.

Much as I'm a fan of anything with a motor that can go fast, it had never occurred to me that someday I'd be banking on it.

How can such a thing even be imagined?

I have to say I am struck dumb.

I'll get back to you tomorrow...

FIA President Johnny Death gives thumbs up to Bahrain Formula One race

Johnny Death, aka Jean Todt, has apparently given the green light to next week's F-1 circus in Bahrain.

I've been following F-1 since that Surtees fellow was world champ on the two wheelers and the four wheelers.

That's never happened again.

And I've never heard of Johnny Death till today.

All along I've been under the impression that Big Bernie calls the shots in F-1.

That would be Bernie Ecclestone, the guy who built Grand Prix racing from a money-losing sideline to a billion dollar industry.

Bernie's website assures me that Jean Todt has consulted all the relevant stakeholders in Bahrain, including the Shia opposition, and everybody is gung-ho for the Grand Prix.

If that's true maybe we won't get to see Lewis Hamilton running over that IED after all.