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Formula 1 racing is attracting interest
in India. And altering expectations too. For a country that seems, by way of global caricature, to progress from the bullock-cart age to the bullock-cart age from one century to the next, or more unkindly still, as a slovenly nation of 'turtles all the way', the change in self-perception is quite something. Suddenly, India has Formula 1 fans emerging from under car hoods, with not just race details on their fingertips, but an itch to get some of the vroom-zoom action themselves. Something of the sort was thought to be happening nearly a decade ago, too. The difference this time is that ignoring it would actually be foolhardy. As the young urban Indian mind begins to make space for racetracks and race cars, prepare for a big shift in expectations. This is a good shift. For some, the clearest sign that India is still a muddle-of-the-road economy is the state of traffic on the streets. Speed limits seem to have been set in the bullock-cart age, at around half the minimum speeds allowed on some European highways. And if that's not bad enough, there's still no clear stretch that can be driven for more than a few minutes without inflicting trauma in jittering degrees on one's own vertebrae and nerves. As a global CEO of a consultancy once remarked, by way of casual comparison: "Take international quality highways. China has 3,000 kilometers. India? Three." FDI destination case closed. China is already nearing the checkered flag. India has barely gotten over the joys of revving engines for everybody to hear. Now, now, now---wait a minute. Didn't somebody say something about a shift in expectations? Indeed. Do not underestimate the influence that Formula 1, and the very notion of speedy goal attainment that it represents, has started having on people in India, young and old alike----in significant numbers too. And, as with any such quantum change in expectations, do not underestimate what frustration on this score can do.
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