I have to say that I'm not much of a racing game fan. The only such game that I've played fanatically was Wipeout 2097. I've also played with CMR 2.0 for a spell. However, it is my opinion that this game can be played by anyone who does not have an epileptic condition. Or, to be more precise, anyone could become addicted to this game quite easily.
It is not just the superb feeling of speed or the shiny graphics or the insane destruction or the excellent soundtrack. It is the sum total of all these elements as well as the fine balance between realism and arcade action. Of course, the game leans heavily towards the latter, but the physics engine and the damage model are just right for this kind of game, a rare occurence in arcade racers (NFSU pinball physics anyone?)
Burnout 3 can get people who are not fans of the genre to sit and play for hours on end. That is all that needs to be said about this incredibly fun, dangerously addictive, excellent game.