It's Not the Car
Sam Smith, Ross Bentley, Jeff BraunIt’s Not the Car is a podcast about people and speed. We tell racing stories and leave out the boring parts. Ross Bentley is a former IndyCar driver and a world-renowned performance coach. Jeff Braun is a champion race engineer with time in NASCAR and IMSA. Sam Smith is an award-winning journalist and a former executive editor of Road & Track magazine. We don’t love motorsport for the nuts and bol... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 93 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | AutomotiveLeisure | |||
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Latest Episodes
How did Ross and a young Kimi Räikkönen end up sharing a fancy London apartment? After 20 years of testing fast cars for a living, which one still makes Sam misty? What really went wrong with Ross’s IndyCar career?
Answers to these questions—and mor... more
Jimmy Kite crashed four times—four!—trying to qualify for the 1998 Indy 500. The story of how he finally made the show holds bad luck and trashed cars but also a hidden concussion, a giant fireball, an airborne gearbox, and a fat dose of can-do spiri... more
We’ve driven nearly all of ’em. Nearly every road model, plus some great race cars and extended family—a 934 and 935, a Daytona-winning Sixties 2.0-liter, a Rothmans 962, some 959s and RSRs, even Jerry Seinfeld’s 1964 “Butzi” shorty.
Why do people l... more
IndyCar is a gnarly old series, and 2025 was one of the sport’s gnarliest seasons. So we asked the one and only Marshall Pruett to break it all down—own the mic, spit Palou truth, don’t hold back.
(That’s Pruett's secret—he never holds back.)
Selec... more
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Reviews
- Like Peter Egan in audio
Great stories with topic and format changes that keep me interested. Thanks for the content!
Apple Podcasts5Brewster Baker's no.1 fan
United States4 months ago - The Story of Narcissus
Sam the host is a bit pompous like he often listens to his own voice
I'd wager every other sentence said is for him and not the audience
Apple Podcasts3NiMiDesignUnited States6 months ago - Think like a racer
Road raced competitively for 10 years. Everything the best coaches and mentors told me comes up here, and then some. Ego vs mastery orientation in golfers is discussed by a famous sports psychologist. This is mastery race car engineering and driving. And they take polite shots at the ego folks, which is simply fun.
I’m faster in a PC sim racecar employing a handful of nuggets from this pod as well.
Apple Podcasts5late_apexUnited States6 months ago - An explorative and thorough podcast about everything surrounding “The Car“
So I’m going to try to not go onto 16 different tangents because there’s no way I’ll ever hold a candle to Sam Smith in that talent to do so. Trying to encapsulate the greatness of this podcast in a review is confounding. The chemistry in that the three hosts have with one another is enviable. Their ability to deep dive the automotive engineering principles, the human mind, and the way they intertwine is something you just have to listen to and behold. This is not a podcast where you give it a s... more
Apple Podcasts5HatepylonsUnited States6 months ago - Love the show
As an auto racing fan, this show is a must for anyone who is interested in the people that make racing so fun.
Apple Podcasts5OldF150
Canada7 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #26 | United States/Leisure/Automotive |
Apple Podcasts | #32 | Canada/Leisure/Automotive |
Apple Podcasts | #112 |  United Kingdom/Leisure/Automotive |
Apple Podcasts | #53 |  France/Leisure/Automotive |
Apple Podcasts | #66 |  Germany/Leisure/Automotive |
Apple Podcasts | #76 |  Australia/Leisure/Automotive |
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Frequently Asked Questions About It's Not the Car
What is It's Not the Car about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This podcast focuses on captivating stories from the world of racing, emphasizing the human experiences and emotions intertwined with speed and performance on the track. The hosts, who each bring unique expertise from their backgrounds in IndyCar racing, race engineering, and automotive journalism, discuss a variety of themes, including car handling, the psychology behind racing, and the complex dynamics of sponsorship. Their engaging conversations often weave personal anecdotes with technical insights, making each episode both informative and entertaining. What sets this podcast apart is its ability to explore deep emotional connections with motorsport while celebrating the unique characters and narratives within the automotive community.
Where can I find podcast stats for It's Not the Car?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for It's Not the Car. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to It's Not the Car and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does It's Not the Car get?
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What are the audience demographics for It's Not the Car?
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How many subscribers and views does It's Not the Car have?
To see how many followers or subscribers It's Not the Car has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to It's Not the Car?
These podcasts share a similar audience with It's Not the Car:
1. Dinner with Racers
2. The Smoking Tire
3. Spike's Car Radio
4. The Carmudgeon Show
5. The Marshall Pruett Podcast
How many episodes of It's Not the Car are there?
It's Not the Car launched 2 years ago and published 93 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact It's Not the Car?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for It's Not the Car?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for It's Not the Car from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for It's Not the Car?
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What guests have appeared on It's Not the Car?
Recent guests on It's Not the Car include:
1. Marshall Pruett
2. Kyle Kinard
3. Baptiste Viala
4. Jeff Braun
5. Nick Ienatsch
6. Vaughn Gittin, Jr.
7. Dr. Sue Jackson
8. Tony Quiroga
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.