On a race track, who do you think will win? A formula 1 car, or an indy car? :-D?

I would go with the F1 Renault :)

That comparison has never actually been done before because neither side would agree to it as the loser is going to make their series look bad and the it would be a logistical challenge to bring the two teams together for scientific purposes like this.

If the cars were specifcally set up by their full team for a specific track I think the F1 car would just barely win. F1 cars are far more expensive and have more open rules to allow for higher technology but their tracks are all much tighter and slower than any of the road courses run by Indy cars (IRL or Champ Cars). On an F1 track the F1 car would run away with it on an indy car track the indy car/champ car make take it since is has a bigger engine about the same horsepower as the F1 car.

Don't forget:

INDY CARS/CHAMP CARS MAY BE SLOWER BECAUSE THEIR RULES ARE DIFFERENT NOT BECAUSE AMERICAN ENGINEERS ARE STUPIDER ETC.

If you want to compare drivers then there is the annual rally of champions (maybe a slightly different name)held in spain or somewhere in the offseason that gathers drivers form different series ot race each other in identical cars. Schumi comes every year but I don't think he has ever won. Nascra drivers have won it though.

The F1 car would lap the Indy car after around 20 laps. Even if the best Indy driver races with someone like Sakon Yamamoto or Yuji Ide, the Japanese bottom-of-the-grid pilots used throughout the year by Super Aguri.

If Fernando Alonso or Michael Schumacher would race the best drivers in Indy or ChampCar, the only contest would be between the two.

Especially on a F1 track the F1 car would dominate the indy car. On an oval like indy it would be a close match; but I still think the F1 would win.

If you are talking car vs car, the F1 car is MUCH more superior.

Driver vs driver is a different story. I think overall F1 has the best drivers, but I'm sure there are some Indy drivers better than some F1 drivers.

Even with the new V8 engines, a F1 car will easily beat indy cars on acourse, oval or even dragging. Acceleration of F1 is quicker (< 3 secs 0-60) and the top speed is higher (In good old V10 days Ferraris hit 346 kms/hr, in the last GP in Turkey they reached 315,6 )

You have to take into account a totally different style of driving. You'd have use a Formula One driver for both situation and then apply the same coordinates on the Indycar driver. A Formula Car is a $10 million car, Indycar is a $500.000 maximum. It is quite hard to compare the two on many fronts but if I had to I 'd have to choose the F1 machine, a much more sophisticated car.

What a silly question. An F1 car would drive circles around an indy car.

Formula 1, hands down. Primarily because F1 cars are lighter and aren't limited by "spec" tires and homogenous setups.

It would be a fun exhibition to watch, though!

the F1

indy cars are heavy and bulky relative to F1.

without doubt, the F1's are much better as far as aerodynamics, control, stability and engine tweaks are concerned.

F1 definitely has the better acceleration and probably speed as well

F1