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Sorry lateBrakeU2, but people in Italy are not staying up to watch nasacr racing. American based Stock cars do not appeal to the International motorsports fan base. F1 is there cup of tea. Even Rally but not Nascar.
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I don't think NASCAR is looking to convert the tifosi(unless of course Herr Shuey decides to drive for Chip) but there's definitely a % of europeans that will watch if one of their drivers makes the jump- if nothing more than to see how competitve their countrymen perform against America's best.Montoya is a national hero in Columbia and the south american market has skyrocked since he joined the series.Villenueve will bring a very large Fan base from Canada,and the same will go for Dario and Scotland.IRL and CART have long since become home for all the international drives that couldn't get a seat in F1 and now the tin tops are the move becasue of the big $$ drivers are paid.(Allmendinger got nearly 10 mil)
I would much rather watch a WRC event(oops can't anymore thanks David Richards!)or F1 but you have to respect France's ability to market and grow his series.