Many Europeans, rightly or wrongly, see the American-based championship as a place where Formula One aspirants mingle with others whose Grand Prix days are over.

	Franchitti is sixth in the CART standings entering the Rockingham 500.

Drivers such as Canadian Jacques Villeneuve and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya arrived in Formula One after winning the CART crown but many more drivers disappear in the other direction.

Eight of the 28 who started the 2001 CART season had previously raced in Formula One, most with little success.

Brazilian Roberto Moreno is now 42, compatriot Mauricio Gugelmin 38.

Franchitti, who tested for Jaguar last year but has never raced in Formula One, insisted that his championship could hold its own.

And the Scot also suggested that a Formula One champion like Michael Schumacher would not have it all his way either if he ever decided to come over.

"Looking at it on a technology level, for sure it (Formula One) is superior," he said at the new Rockingham oval circuit which is set to host a race on Saturday. "They've got bigger budgets and stuff.

"Looking at it on a driver front, it's definitely not superior...we have to drive the cars more.

Strong points
"It's very difficult to say F1 is this, and CART is that. I'm an F1 fan, I watch it, but one is different from the other. To say one is better is wrong.

"They've each got their strong points and their weak points," added Franchitti, who was runner-up behind Montoya after finishing level on points with the Colombian in the 1999 championship.

"(Formula One drivers) are at the highest level of motorsport but I don't believe its any higher than CART."

Franchitti said Schumacher could definitely be a winner in CART but was unsure whether the Ferrari driver would be head and shoulders above the rest.

"Schumacher is definitely very good but Juan is doing right now I think an equally good job, if not better," he said.

"And there were days when he did a better job than everybody else in CART and days when he qualified mid-pack and couldn't move from there."

Franchitti said CART was more of a leveller, with teams having far more similar cars and technology accessible to all.

"That's one of the things that makes it good for the spectators and bloody hard work," he added.

Close racing
Swedish championship leader Kenny Brack was adamant that CART could match any series for thrills.

"I can guarantee you that if you come here and see a CART race on this track, you will probably see more overtaking here in half the race than in the whole Formula One season," he said.