head to head
vs
Indy 500vsThe Need for Speed
Indy 500 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); The Need for Speed leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Indy 500The Need for Speed
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 7
The Need for Speed leans harder on execution: Holding racing lines at speed through traffic is the test
Reads3 vs 1
Indy 500 leans harder on reads: Head-to-head races reward anticipating the rival's line
Variance1 vs 2
The Need for Speed leans harder on variance: Traffic patterns add mild run-to-run noise
Optimization3 vs 3
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.