Indianapolis 500 So what if the boys in Daytona get the jump with the running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. It still isn't the greatest racing event in the world! That title belongs to the Indianapolis 500. The "500" has been a Memorial Day tradition since 1911 when Ray Harroun, a mechanic, Indiana's Marmon Automobile Company, retro-fitted one of Marmon's Wasp models with what is believed to be the first rear view mirror and soldiered home first in what was then called the 500 sweepstakes. There are an assortment of reasons why the Indy 500 overshadows the Daytona 500 and the number of annual renditions (84 for Indy, 42 for Daytona) is at the bottom of the list. Let's look at attendance. More than 150,000 will fill Daytona's 2.5 miles of grandstands on Feb. 18. It will be a sell out. But, on May 27, when Mary Hulman George intones "Lady and Gentlemen, start your engines," some 400,000 fans will be trackside as Indy celebrates their 25th consecutive sellout. Before NASCAR fans cry foul pointing out that Daytona has fewer seats, let me point out that any self respecting track operator will quickly tell you that you build seats only when the demand is there. What about TV numbers? Depending upon whether or not the East Coast gets hammered with a snow storm, The Daytona 500 may from time to time garner superior ratings to the Indy 500 but averaging the ratings 500 vs. Daytona for the past 10 years will show Indy to be a slight winner. Here's where Indy wins hands down. The 2000 Indianapolis 500 became the greatest source of sponsorship exposure in the history of broadcast motorsports. According to Joyce Julius and Associates, the 84th Indianapolis 500, which aired live on ABC Sports on May 28, 2000, generated a record $102.4 million in sponsor exposure. This is the first time in the history of televised motorsports coverage that a single event has surpassed the $100-million mark. More international TV networks air the Indy 500. More journalists attend the Indy 500. Daytona is a winner over Indy in one area. More Licensed merchandise is sold around the Daytona 500 than any sporting event including the recently completed Super Bowl. But if you asked the average mainstream sports fan to name one racing event, the hands down winner would be the response. "The Indy 500." It's like calling cola Coke or paper tissues Kleenix. The Indy 500 has icon status. Reams of articles have detailed the recent split of CART from the Indy track and the 500. Since the IRL became the host organization for the "500" some have said that the popularity for the event has waned. I have attended every Indy 500 since 1969 and you would be hard pressed to convince me. Tradition plays a part in my choice of the Indy 500.According to an old General Motors slogan, America is baseball, hot dogs and Chevrolet. I say add Milk in Victory Lane, the deep throaty call of Tom Carnegie (who is racing's version of Vin Scully), and the yard of bricks that marks the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's start finish line. For every Petty, Pearson, Jarrett, Waltrip, Labonte, Gordon and Allison that Daytona has, Indy has a Foyt, Stewart (two in fact -- Jackie and Tony), Bettenhausen, Unser, Luyendyk, Cheever, Andretti and Mears. If your still not convinced, then, consider this question. Which track is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks? Don't waste your phone a friend or poll the audience on this. The answer is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway home of the Indy 500 ... acknowledged (and trademarked) as "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing." -- Jack Arute

Daytona 500 Comparing the Indy 500 to the Daytona 500 is a case of "apples and oranges." Both have cool nicknames -- "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and "The Great American Race." One marks the start of summer; the other the start of a new season. Indy rules when it comes to history, Daytona wins in the drama column. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a national monument in the heart of the Midwest; Daytona International Speedway is a showplace in the middle of Vacation-ville. Probably more people have dreamed about winning the Indy 500 than Daytona, but Indy has been around longer. Both have become icons that hundreds of thousands see live and millions more watch on TV. So which is a bigger deal? As a fan and broadcaster, this question can be answered in many ways. My answer is the Daytona 500. This's not just because the race is only days away. I choose Daytona because NASCAR is a much bigger part of the American sports scene than open-wheel racing. You can save the history lesson, folks, I have been to Indy and stood on the grid moments before "Start your Engines." It's incredible. Absolutely mind-blowing. I love Indianapolis, but right now the Daytona 500 is America's most important race. Let's compare a few of the differences and see if there's a decisive winner. Hype -- This year the attention is turned toward Daytona for many reasons -- A new broadcast team and network, new technology, new aerodynamic rules, the return of Dodge. The Indy 500 will see the return of Penske Racing, but the feud between the two sanctioning bodies is a big problem. Result: Daytona 500. Competition -- Everybody I have run into recently wants to know who I think is going to win. My standard answer is, "Dale Jarrett is the odds on favorite, Earnhardt the grandstand favorite, Jeff Gordon has a great shot at it, and so will 40 other guys." But that's not really fair. The truth is only seven or eight cars are real contenders. In 19 of the last 20 Daytona 500s the winner has come from the top eight starting spots. The race has been won from the front row in nine of those and from the pole in five, including the last two years. By the way, the last 10 Indy 500s have had different winners, although eight of those have come from the top-10 starters. I think a slight advantage goes to NASCAR because the cars run side-by-side and in packs. It is much more exciting. The initial start of the race is also much better. Result: Push. Weather -- OK, so maybe it's not the stats that make this the big deal that it is. Part of the allure is the fact that 85 percent of the fans in the stands have escaped the perils of winter. Being in Florida during the first part of February has its merits. Although it's rarely nice enough to sun bath or get into the ocean, it sure beats shoveling snow. It almost always rains in Indy in the humid month of May. Result: Daytona 500. Facility -- IMS is a great place. Many will say it is the 'Mecca' of motorsports. I like the speedway, and city, but there's not one seat in the place where you can see the entire track. That stinks. Parking is nearly impossible and you should pack an extra lunch for the ride out after the race. DIS, however, is laid out much better. Parking is easier and you can see much more of the racing. Result: Daytona 500. Race cars -- Although today's Winston Cup race car is no more stock than an Indy Car, they do slightly resemble a car you see on the street. The people who sell you cars think that's a big deal. "Win on Sunday; Sell on Monday." NASCAR has done a great job trying to control costs by limiting technology. The IRL, the governing body of the Indy 500, should also be commended for its cost controls. The start of the Daytona 500 gives me goose bumps every year, but I have to give this one to Indy. They look like race cars should. Result: Indy 500. Information -- If you're a cyber fan and you're looking for data, you'll have more luck finding stats about the Indy 500 than Daytona 500. NASCAR has a great deal of work to do in order to service the stats-hungry fan. The Indy 500 web site is great. Indy Racing Online has seasonal and career stats for drivers. Don't look for that stuff on NASCAR Online, it's not available. Result: Indy 500. All right, so I have not really solved the great debate. Both races have advantages. Both sanctioning bodies have high points. Both tracks are world famous. My favorite is the Daytona 500. Because of Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. Your favorite might be Foyt or Unser. Overall I like stock car racing better. I think it's more enjoyable. No matter which side you're on, I'll bet if you took the time to read this column, you'll be watching Feb. 18 -- just like me! -- Ray Dunlap