Hard to believe they were insane enough to run a Formula 1 race at that track. I remember seeing Niki Lauda's crash back in the mid-seventies that basically led to its closure in terms of competitive racing.  
I've gone around it in the simulator (GT4) and for all its lenght, it's still a very narrow track and there's very few places where you can pass anyone with ease. Probably the most challenging track in the world.
 
Valentino

My roomate has run it many times...he's also raced professionally at the 24Hrs of Nurburgring endurance race twice. The North Loop is unbelieveably treacherous. Besides the disfiguring Lauda crash, I've seen documentation of some horrendous crashes there...mostly a combo of overzealous drivers and rental cars (mostly BMW, LOL!).

As luck would have it, the MotoGP circus is in Deutschland this weekend for the German GP, but they're at the Sachsenring in former East Germany now. the Nurburgring and Hockenheimring races have been kaput for many years now.

My favorite quote from the inestimable JM Fangio:
 
In my day, tires were skinny and racers were fat!
 
J o e y