Review: NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience

LAS VEGAS -- While watching a sneak preview of NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience, one thought stayed in my mind:

I hope the fans watch this so they can experience what it's like to be inside the sport.

About the only negative thing I can tell you about this hour-long masterpiece is that you'll get a headache watching it. It's not a matter if -- but when.

And it'll be severe.

The headache will be much like the ones I imagine comes with being a member of a pit crew on Sundays. Actually being part of a pit stop will do that to you.

It's that realistic. The viewer is truly transformed.

The film is set for the widest release of any IMAX project to date -- it opens on 68 screens starting Fri., March 12.

ALSO  For more on the IMAX project, check out our special page devoted to the film.

NASCAR went to great lengths to complete this most unusual project. The filming required great patience and cooperation from the teams, and it shows.

Oh, one other thing. At slightly less than one hour, it's way too short. You're left wanting more. All great movies do.

Except it's not really a movie. It's much more than that. It's a documentary, albeit one high on 107 octane.

IMAX was filmed at several tracks in 2003, with California Speedway getting the most airtime, but virtually all of the oval tracks are featured.

	Ryan Newman rides shotgun while Jimmie Johnson drives a 1950s "moonshine ride" for IMAX filming.

Surprisingly, I didn't think the drivers were the stars of the film. I felt that team members were.

A lot of time is taken showing the teams preparing for the races, and that is the part that fans need to see. Although the full effect of the IMAX cameras is best suited to the racing, it's the race preparation that benefits the most from this type of filmmaking.

IMAX was allowed access into most of the sport's top shops, including Gibbs, Roush, RCR and DEI. Even the most die-hard fans will get to see how hard the teams have to work to get the car to the track.

That work is sometimes taken for granted, and IMAX inserted a lot of reality into it.

	An IMAX 3D camera is moved into position to capture a perspective of the cockpit. Credit: AP

You almost feel sorry for the team employees. It's obvious that their existence is not of the 9-to-5 variety. You'll see a car being built from the ground up: Bare chassis. Sheet metal. Engine added. Car loaded.

All of this is mixed in with a great score that NASCAR would be wise to release in CD form.

Kiefer Sutherland narrates the film, which was exceptionally written by Sports Illustrated writer Mark Bechtel. The writing is simple and straightforward, and Sutherland's low-key voice provides a nice contrast to the piercing sound.

Most of the drivers aren't seen on camera, but extensive voice-overs are used. IMAX's objective is visual awe, which makes on-camera interviews unnecessary.

This hour-long experience can be seen for a long time -- IMAX has said that the movie will in the theaters for much of 2004.