What You Study Isn’t Necessarily What You Dream
I am a student majoring in Information Technology and Informatics. One would think that pursuing a path in tech is my true passion. Although it is, and I thoroughly enjoy the learning experience behind each coding language, I do also believe there is a difference between one that is a dream and one that is a passion. I am passionate about machines and the behind-the-scenes work that allows each machine to come to life. It is ultimately where I will find myself working in a tech job. But there’s something indescribable about a dream job. You long for it to come true, yet it is almost unobtainable. And that dream, for me, is driving a race car in the Indy 500, accelerating pass my competitors and the wind being the only thing slowing me down.
Indy 500 vs NASCAR vs Formula 1
There is something people tend to not understand; what is the difference between the Indy 500, NASCAR, and Formula 1? All three forms of racing are a part of the category, motorsports. But there’s more to it than just a bunch of cars racing each other in a course, with fans cheering on their favorite drivers, and the checkered flag waiting to name a winner. Car weights matter, physical appearances are different, and the race lengths vary.
Gotten from Montreal Grand Prix’s website, we can see how different each form of racing is. For both the Indy 500 and Formula 1, “cars feature open wheels and an open cockpit”, whereas NASCAR showcases stock cars in the style of sedans (Montreal Grand Prix, 2018). Since NASCAR cars are enclosed, they weigh significantly more than the cars in Indy 500 and Formula 1. As for the length, typically, NASCAR races last a little under 4 hours with around 330 laps, while the Indy 500 and Formula 1 races last over 2 hours with an average of 200 laps. Though Indy 500 and Formula 1 seem very similar, the rules and styles of each race is what sets them apart. And on another note, NASCAR and Indy 500 are local to the United States, whereas Formula 1 can take place all across the globe.
When Did It All Start
I have always had a fascination with cars. From their designs to the engines to the capabilities of each vehicle, I love comparing different models with one another. When I was younger, I would ask my parents to get me Hot Wheels to play with and I would add it to my collection. Each car was unique and special, and I would race them on tracks as if they were competing for the title of Champion. As of now, I have lost those cars, but I have resorted to collecting in a different way. Instead of Hot Wheels, I would purchase Lego models to build. These cars would come from Formula 1, NASCAR, or from other sources. I find this much more fun because I am able to assemble the pieces together myself, almost like I built the car on my own. This hobby is expensive but it is something I truly enjoy. So far, I have amassed 11 Speed Champions cars, Batman’s Batmobile, and the BMW M 1000 RR motorcycle.
It is Important to Dream
It was a dream from when I was younger, and it is still a dream I wish today. There are some things people grow out of and there are some they just never give up. I believe it is fine to dream, even if you know the chances of it coming true are next to nothing, because most times, these dreams are the ones bringing joy and happiness to life.
It is relaxing to be able to lean back and think of an alternate universe where you are living your life. And not only does it bring hope and excitement, but the nostalgia that accompanies it is something people always strive to relive. Being able to look in your past – seeing how you haven’t really changed – it brings us to a place where we wish we can stay forever. I wish I was younger again, and there were no limits to my imaginations – where even the most outrageous ideas were possible. I wish to go back to a place where I had all the time to dream about myself driving my very own race car.
Karen Li 