Is auto racing a sport or not a sport? The answer to that question really involves how one views man’s control over a machine. It is true that the engine does most of the work in an auto race. The engine creates the power by which the car speeds around the race track. The only thing that a human does in this area is to place their foot on the gas pedal. Not much athleticism is needed to do that.
A human, however, does control where the car is going. Steering, epsecially at speeds close to and above 200 miles per hour with others cars going the same speed, does require great hand-eye coordination. In addition, a person needs to be in good physical condition to drive well during a 500 or so mile race. Finally, strategy is required. When to pass, how fast to go, when to draft, etc. Those questions are constantly being asked and aswered during an auto race. Therefore, it is my opinion that Auto Racing IS a sport.
Pingback: Sport » Sport July 30, 2007 6:25 pm