Square Pegs In Round Holes

Trying to uproot something completely local, and move it overseas trying to make it popular over there is not that straightforward. Phenomena like Formula One, Madonna concerts, McDonalds are blissfully similar and recognizable wherever you go, and they each become that way seamlessly. Considering these you take for granted the effort that it takes to become a globally accepted occurance. Doing something truly global in a manner that appeals to people of every nation, is very, very hard.

ChampCar for example is a very Americanized version of the open-wheel formulas we've grown accustomed to in Europe. Now if one would try to bring this back to the old world, you'll encounter some peculiar things:

• In the US you have to be thankful to your sponsors... every single one of them. "So thanks to the Sony Ericsson Toys 'R' Us Swatch EA Sports Shell Peugeot British Airways Nintendo SKW Racing Team I'm finally able to buy that engine upgrade."
• In another country you can sing the national anthem like you want it, even if it's so off-key, the Naked Gun series would be ashamed to air it.
• Europeans need their sports flowing and long-running, with a few highlights in between. Americans need their sport in short, manageable pieces, and they want to cram in as many meaningless high spots as possible. That's why the American ChampCars have the yellow flag rule, which serves to bring fields back together, if the leaders moved too far away from the field; to have ample opportunity for commercials; and for no other discernible reason than a pebble near the entrance of the pit area.
• Preceding every race with a Christian sermon is kind of presumptuous in a non-US country.

Luckily some things remain universal, whichever side of the Atlantic you're on:

• Bad commentators will still rattle over their mistakes, pretending they never made them.
• Women in tight, skin-hugging clothing are good.
• The roar of a V8 engine still rules.