As Pops1967GTX said, "Gran Prix" was and is indeed a fine racing movie. It won several awards for cinematography, and was noted too for it's score. [I still have the album] The story behind the movie is interesting, as much for what you do see as for what you don't. Par example, notice the lack of Lotus? The absence of Coopers? The missing Matras? Well, that's because Steve McQueen was trying to do a GP movie at roughly the same time and had contracted those teams first - the BRMs, Brabhams and such were quickly snapped up by Frankenheimer's crew and tracks were rented in order to foul up McQueen's schedule... Ferrari wanted nothing to do with either of them, but some good film making and creative salesmanship saw Frankenheimer find favour with Il Commendatore and really enabled his movie to stand out.
If you're really interested, and I mean REALLY interested, go over to the Autosport.com forums, and go to the Nostalgia subsection. There's the mother of all threads there about this movie. I mean there are guys there that have built complete dioramas of all the different tracks in the film, built models to match the film cars and can 're-enact' the races to show who would have been where at any point on the circuit. They can also point out any inconsistencies and differences in any of the cars, including "incorrect" dampners and exhaust systems for the 65 season proving that certain bits of film were spliced in later... It's unreal.
As far as just for the racing, I would highly recommend Steve McQueen's movie "LeMans". Pretty darn realistic with some obvious cinematic license, but told from a racer's point of view. As is 'The speed Merchants'.
Funny Car Summer is fun too - and I'm in a background shot of that one myself!
Might also check out "Une Homme et Femme" - A Man and a Woman. Set against the backdrop of Ford France testing and the Monte Carlo rallye, it's got some good car stuff and a storyline that will make it enjoyable for non car nut spouses. "Winning" with Paul Newman fits that genre also.
And don't forget the original 'Cannonball Run' done by Brock Yates. Silly, but fun and a LOT of truth in that one if you happen to know some of the stories behind the original Cannonball...
Check out Redline 7000 and Speedway with Elvis for some vintage nascar. [and a stereo playing in a daytona coupe...] And I really like Elvis in "Spinout" - interesting and esoteric sports cars in there.
And wasn't it 'Bikini Beach' with Frankie and Annette that had the Greer Black and Prudhomme fueler in it? And the custom Cuda in 'fireball 500'. and, and...
