Juan Pablo Montoya is one of the most prominent figures in racing today. He’s had a successful career in F1 racing, winning the grand prix seven times. If you are looking for information on how to improve the state of international racing today, then he is one of the people that should be listened to. It’s therefore interesting to take note of the fact that Montoya has said that there are a lot of good ideas present in American IndyCar, which F1 racing should consider adopting. It remains to be seen whether the F1 community and leadership will be receptive to his suggestions, however.
As far as Montoya is concerned, IndyCar has a lot of good ideas when it comes to connecting with, and engaging the fans. For example, Montoya takes note of the fact that the cars and the drivers are more accessible to the fans in NASCAR, than they are in F1 racing. This makes a big difference because it brings fans closer to the action and closer to the prominent figures in the race.
It’s easy to see the differences when it comes to accessibility. When it comes to F1, the area where the driver and vehicles are is usually closed off to the public. If you are a fan who is attending one of the races, then you don’t really expect to be able to see the cars from up close. This is unfortunate because people would feel an even closer connection to the racing if they could have a closer look at the vehicles. Of course, it makes sense to ensure that the vehicles are kept in a secure manner. But this is quite different compared to how things are done in NASAR.
In American racing, the fans are able to get closer to the vehicles, and walk around among them. Already, this creates a feeling of being closer to the sport. In addition, NASCAR makes it a point to have the drivers more actively communicate with fans using social media, so again, fans are able to develop a deeper relationship with the figures of the sport, as well as the league itself. At the same time, NASCAR also holds additional events which are aimed at allowing fans to get autographs of their particular drivers, as well as engage with them more closely. As far as Montoya is concerned, F1 racing is too closed off from the fans, and this distance and aloofness is something that needs to be improved on.
