Originally Posted by Zdom

Has anyone taken an automatic to the track?

Even the Indy cars are moving toward automatic:

Excerpt from The Indianapolis 500 Electronic Edge...

Adam Schaechter, chief engineer at AJ Foyt Racing, says that one of the biggest changes in the race over the past few years has been the switch to the current six-speed, all-forward-gears, semi-automatic transmission. It eliminates the clutch pedal and provides electronic control to synchronize timing and torque requirements, resulting in a smooth, efficient transition.

The drivers only have to contend with a paddle shifter that toggles up or down one gear. The shift control incorporates strain gauges to determine when a driver desires a transition. This has led to a “shift without lift” approach to driving, where the driver always has the “pedal to the metal.”