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23
MONDAY
The man who gave us Willy leaping majestically over-camera toward freedom was certainly a good choice to direct an IMAX movie about zooming 3-D race cars. Of course, Simon Wincer also directed Operation Dumbo Drop and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, so caveat emptor. But the appeal of NASCAR: The IMAX Experience is getting to be in the virtual driver’s seat as souped-up automobiles go racing and crashing around in circles at 200 mph. Despite being partly responsible for the sorry state of our environment—emissions, sprawl—car culture survives in large part because speed is cool and even a Ford Probe can be a liberating device. NASCAR makes some mention of the science, engineering, and history of driving like an idiot, but make no mistake—you’ll want to thumb your nose at Smokey. Get your motor running at 1, 4, and 6 p.m. (see Showtimes for other dates) at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center’s IMAX Theater, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly. $8. (202) 357-2700. (Dave Nuttycombe)