Foggy Goggles: Podium Interviews in Motorsports: Are They Necessary?

By Allen Pitts (Looking Through Foggy Goggles)

Observations from Different Racing Series

While watching racing on TV this weekend, I noticed Indy Car uses a podium finish like F1, but NASCAR only celebrates the winner in victory lane. Many of the short track shows I attended last year also interviewed the top three drivers on the front stretch.

The Impact on Short Track Events

Now, most short track shows already tend to run longer than necessary, and interviewing the top three finishers just extends the evening further. While I understand that the third-place finisher’s wife may be thrilled to hear him speak on the P.A. system, it raises the question of whether it is truly essential to know why he didn’t win. If we continue down this path, why stop at the top three? We might as well interview the entire field.

Personal Preference: Keep It Simple

Of course, interviewing every driver would be absurd. Personally, I would be satisfied with a brief interview of the winner and then moving on to the next class. That way, there’s a better chance of getting home before sunrise. What’s your opinion: should the interviews be limited to the winner, or include the top three?