The section on car setup, for example, features Michael Andretti explaining that setups are different for ovals and road courses because ovals are all left turns - but he doesn't tell you which setup options are involved or how they should be configured. And the 'Racing School' - nine videos featuring Mario, Michael, and Jeff Andretti - is essentially worthless. The lack of detailed track information and driver biographies in Andretti Racing is somewhat disappointing - especially compared to the stellar job Terminal Reality and Microsoft did in those departments with CART Precision Racing. Weather? Well, the box says something about 'adjusting weather conditions,' but in all my outings I never saw a single raindrop. Car setup? Despite the fact that the Andretti Racing manual quotes Bill Taylor as saying 'most races are won or lost in the garage,' there are only six setup rudimentary options available: automatic/manual transmission, hard/soft tires, front wing, rear wing, gear ratios, and fuel load. Real drivers? As far as I could make out, only ten of the game's 30 drivers have real-life Indy or NASCAR counterparts - and three of them are Andrettis (surprise, surprise!). Looking for authentic tracks? Only four of Andretti's tracks are licensed.

You don't have to be a CART or NASCAR expert to see that Andretti Racing exists in something of a fantasy world, one where realism has been given a cursory nod and the emphasis is on high-octane, thrill-a-minute action. The funny thing is that both opinions are pretty much on the money - and how much you enjoy EA Sports' latest racing game depends on which camp you belong to.

Some gamers will view Andretti Racing as a Need for Speed loaded with real race cars and fancied up with a few brushstrokes of realism, while others will see it as a dumbed-down amalgam of NASCAR 2, CART Racing, and CART Precision Racing.

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