This isn't just a lack of interest in F1, it's an almost complete lack of modern motorsports in general.
Oddly enough, for a country where cars are sacred, the US has barely any capability to develop racing cars of any kind (NASCAR is low tech, Indycar, like most other US racing series, buys its cars from Europe), and there is little to no serious competition.
There are no modern racetracks (besides Austin), the facilities at ovals, even Indy, are cheap, low budget and utterly outdated compared to modern racetracks around the world.
There is very little competition outside the major series compared to the many dozens of competitive racing series around the world, and no way for talent to develop.
NASCAR's commercial success aside, the US is a third world country when it comes to racing.
The US isn't a third world country in regards to racing. Rather, it's motorsports heritage is somewhat antithetical to that of F1.
Motorsports in the US reflect this "run what you brung" democratic ethos. The high profile manufacturers in US motorsports are not Ferrari and Lotus. They are Ford and and Chevy and Dodge (and more recently Honda and Toyota). The manufacturer's badges in the parking lot correlate with those on the track.
NASCAR's racing culture is an organic extension of the cars and tracks that make up local races on Friday nights in rural areas. Compared to Formula 1, NASCAR's rules are designed to keep cost per race down and more participation (about three times as many teams in 2013). They are designed to allow frequent racing (about twice as many races, more than two every three weeks).
Instead, high tech motorsports in the U.S. has historically focused on straight line speed, but it always keeps the "run what you brung" ethos.
Got a nitro-methane mixture in the tank ? There's probably someone willing to go mano-a-mano down the track. Four G's and four seconds later, it's decided. And turbine heads with a surplus jet engine will always have Bonneville where the Art Alfonses of the world can take on the corporate Breedloves.
One of the NASCAR ovals mentioned in the article was Bristol. It's in the middle of nowhere, 290 miles from Atlanta, 340 miles from Nashville, and separated from both by the mountains. It holds 160,000 spectators. They don't generally stay in four star hotels, they camp. Good luck finding such rooms in the nearest metropolis. Johnson City Tennessee ain't Monaco.
"Third world country when it comes to racing." That is total BS. Maybe the problem is people don't know about all the different ways you can go racing in this country. It's a big country and there are a lot of different groups with different interests. Maybe you should check out the SCCA or NASA. Don't tell me there are no feeder open wheel series.
And there is tons of technology going on in the tin-top road racing and autocross world. I know folks working on open source engine management. There is currently an indie-go-go for an open source data acquisition system. The "import scene" is full of turbocharged four cylinder cars. Look at some of the cars we have now b/c auto enthusiasts have been screaming about why does Europe get them and not us: Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 Abarth, Mitsu Evo, Subaru STi, Ford Focus ST, Ford Fiesta ST. There are plenty of people in this country who like to turn left and right and are aware of what is going on in the rest of the world. We just do not make the evening news.
P.S. I also take offense to the metric system comment. I'm an mechanical engineer and in practice have to use both unit systems. I'd love if we could just switch to metric.
Lack of interest in soccer means that the US isn't very good in international football for lack of interest, not that it has 'barely any capability to develop' same.
Race cars are not development, they are entertainment. This is like criticizing Europe for not having enough pro wrestling/luchador stuff going on.
Nope. It's been what, only 2 years in to NASCAR actually having EFI engines? Even then, the teams were restricted from being able to use all of the data from the ECU, so everyone had to run at gimped tuning.
V8 Supercars, for example, debuts more tech in one race than NASCAR does in a season. Even WRC Rally cars are questionably more complicated.
Nascar is low-tech in many ways. The car bodies must fit production sedan templates, so the the chassis is welded tubular steel instead of carbon monocoque like on F1 or Indycar. The engines are carbureted instead of fuel injected. There's no turbochargers (although Indy just got those back this year as well). There are strict rules about spoiler size and type.
They do make extensive use of sensors and telemetry, but the cars themselves are pretty retro.
Oddly enough, for a country where cars are sacred, the US has barely any capability to develop racing cars of any kind (NASCAR is low tech, Indycar, like most other US racing series, buys its cars from Europe), and there is little to no serious competition.
There are no modern racetracks (besides Austin), the facilities at ovals, even Indy, are cheap, low budget and utterly outdated compared to modern racetracks around the world.
There is very little competition outside the major series compared to the many dozens of competitive racing series around the world, and no way for talent to develop.
NASCAR's commercial success aside, the US is a third world country when it comes to racing.