You Need To Start Watching IndyCar Racing And You Need To Do It Now

People complain about the lack of passing in Formula One. People complain about how NASCAR drivers only turn left. So what if there was a race series that had a ton of passing and turned left and right? Well, there is. It's called IndyCar, and you need to start watching now.

Yesterday was the Sao Paulo Indy 300, the only race the series runs in South America. Not only did it play to a packed house, but the last 10 laps were probably some of the most exciting racing you'll ever see.

IndyCar has been around for ages, and at one time it was the most popular race series in the country, with the Indy 500 being the most prestigious race in the world. It reached a global peak in 1993, when reigning Formula One champion Nigel Mansell took his talents to America and ran IndyCar.

Then the downhill spiral started. Pride and greed split the series in two, creating a rivalry that was confusing and drove away the fans. The Indy 500 was full of amateurs and the stars couldn't race at Indy. They came back together in 2008, but the series was a shadow of its former self, with low TV ratings and many races that appear to have more people working at the track than actual fans.

It still hasn't clawed its way back either.

Politics and personnel changes have overshadowed the racing in recent years. That's too bad, because the on-track product is stellar. The end of yesterday's race in Sao Paulo exemplified that.

I don't think it's a given that the cars are ugly. I actually love the look of the current IndyCar body, especially from the back where they almost look LMPish.

I don't think it's a given that the cars are ugly. I actually love the look of the current IndyCar body, especially from the back where they almost look LMPish.

Before you say it, no, the technology cannot match F1. Some of the racers are F1 castoffs or pay drivers that would never be F1 quality. The cars are ugly. They aren't as fast as you want them to be. The behind-the-scenes politics are infuriating.

The final lap of the race had an entire year's worth of on track F1 action. The entire top five changed within the 11 corner course. NBC even put Takuma Sato up as the winner in the graphic as they rounded the final turn, just as he was being passed for the lead by James Hinchcliffe on the FINAL TURN OF THE FINAL LAP. It's edge of your seat stuff for an entire race. I find it rare I'm like that during an F1 or NASCAR race for the entire two hours (or in NASCAR's case, 17 hours). More at Jalopnik