What are the differences between Formula 1 and Nascar racing?

Answer 1

F1 cars are lighter, have more downforce, and are tuned more toward the acceleration spectrum of the engine's performance. NASCAR, on the other hand, has heavier cars that are designed to run at the redline for the majority of the race.

F1 tracks tend to be road courses with an even distribution of right and left turns. NASCAR tracks are primarily (but not exclusively) ovals which, contrary to popular belief, are not all the same and range from short ovals to tri-ovals to quad ovals. Due to the gradual nature of a NASCAR curve and the fact that the car is nearly always running top speed in close proximity, stock cars tend to be fairly unpredictable in corners. The cars themselves are very heavy, have limited downforce, and are constantly being pushed and pulled around by the air flow off the other cars.

In simplest terms, think of F1 like thoroughbred horse racing, except rather than the typical oval tracks they're on a road course. NASCAR, by comparison, would be like running the same race on the traditional oval track, but replacing the horses with Brahma bulls.