Average driver age differs in auto racing series across the world

NASCAR Drivers Oldest, Formula One Drivers Youngest, CART & IRL In Middle

Each auto racing series in the world stage some of their biggest events of the season in May. Charlotte headlines the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule while the Formula One cars run through the streets of Monaco. CART's highspeed cars tackle Gateway International Raceway and the Indianapolis 500 highlights the IRL's schedule.

It's not just the machines that separate these series, the men and women that drive them are different as well. A review of the ages of most of the series regular drivers show those drivers' average age to be significantly different. A NASCAR Winston Cup driver's average age in 2000 is about 39 years old - ten years older than a Formula One driver. CART, and the Indy Racing League drivers fall in between with a CART driver's average age of 30 and an IRL drivers average age of 33.

Except for Winston Cup, driver ages in each series decreased slightly in 2000 compared to the 1999 season.

Average Driver Ages

FORMULA ONE

2000    28.5 years old 
1999    28.9 years old

CART

2000    30.0 years old
1999    30.1 years old

INDY RACING LEAGUE

2000    32.7 years old
1999    34.1 years old

NASCAR WINSTON CUP

2000     38.9 years old
1999     38.5 years old

Lycos Pontiac Driver Johnny Benson:

"It surprised me that the average driver age in NASCAR is 39. Actually, that makes me feel good. I'm 36 so I have a ways to go before I even reach the average age. I don't think there is one simple explanation for the different ages. I think it all boils down to the type of driver needed to get the job done. I think in those open wheel series its important the driver have the good reaction time, reflexes and the desire to take that car into a corner without regard. I think in NASCAR that stuff is important also but experience means more than it does in those other series. I think the secret to our racing is also reflexes and daring plus it is understanding what our car is doing. It isn't so much how far can you take a car into the corner as it is 'how can I make our tires last so that they will still let me go in the corner at the same way on lap 60 as I did in the first few laps.'

"It's also knowing what makes a car run better. Those other series have all kinds of engineers and computers to tell them what the car needs. In our deal it's the seat of the pants of the driver that has to make all those calls. That's what experience is all about."

THIS WEEK'S RACE: The Winston Exhibition/All Star Race a.. Race: Saturday, May 20, 2000 in Charlotte, NC

b.. TV: TNN 7:30pm/et, The Winston Open (30 laps & 16 laps) and 9:00pm/et The Winston (30 laps/30 laps/10 laps)

c.. Posted Awards/Purse: minimum $2,000,000, $500,000 to the winner; Winner's share - Minimum $500,000; First Segment Bonuses - 1st - $50,000; 2nd - $15,000; 3rd - $7,500; Second Segment Bonuses - 1st - $50,000; 2nd - $15,000; 3rd - $7,500.

d.. The Winston Qualifying purse: $65,000; 1st - $50,000 ($25,000 to driver, $25,000 to crew); 2nd - $10,000; 3rd - $5,000

e.. No Bull 25s: $71,000 purse each race; 1st - $25,000; 2nd - $3,500; 3rd - $3,200

f.. 1999 Race Winner: Terry Labonte

g.. 1999 Winston Open Winner: Tony Stewart

h.. Twin No Bull 25s Winners: Race #1 - Mike Skinner; Race #2 - Tony Stewart

i.. Track/Race Length: 1.5 mile quad-oval, 70 laps, 105 miles for the Winston

j.. The Race Format: 70 laps, 105 miles (run in three segments of 30 laps, 30 laps and 10 laps). Only green-flag laps will count in all three segments. Drivers who are on pit road and are lapped by the pace car will be scored a lap down. It will be determined between the first and second segments whether or not 12 cars will be inverted

k.. Winston Practice: Friday, May 19 10:30-11:25pm/et and 2:00-3:55pm/et and after the Winston Open No Bull 25's; Saturday, May 20th, 1:00-1:40pm/et and 2:30-3:10pm/et

l.. Winston Open Practice: 11:30am - 12:30pm/et and 1:00 - 1:55pm/et(practice times will determine starting positions for the No Bull 25s); Saturday, May 20th, 1:45 - 2:25 pm/et and 3:15 - 4:00 pm/et

m.. Qualifying for the Winston: Total elapsed time of three laps, including a mandatory four-tire pit stop prior to the first lap, Friday, May 19th at 7:00pm/et, TV-TNN tape delayed - 9:00-11:30am/et on Saturday, May 20th and live via MRN radio/internet(link below)

n.. Qualifying Race's for the Winston Open: Friday, May 19th at 8:45pm/et - The Winston Open No Bull 25s -twin 25-lap races, TV-TNN tape delayed from 9:00-11:30am/et on Saturday, May 20th and live via MRN radio/internet(link below)

o.. Last Year's Pole Sitter: Bobby Labonte, 110.332 seconds for three laps and a mandatory two-tire pit stop. Labonte's speed of 146.830 mph and his crew's pit stop time of 9.844 seconds set a new record for The Winston qualifying

p.. Pit Road Speed: 45mph