Let the debate begin-ESPN best drivers

[vegasnitro]

Mario Andretti also won at LeMans. He was a NASCAR and a European Champion in the same year. He is still the only driver to have won both those championships.

Mario never won at Le Mans ... the only hole on his resume. He tried until just a few years ago, but he could never get it done.

 

[G'ginna]

Mario never won at Le Mans ... the only hole on his resume. He tried until just a few years ago, but he could never get it done.

My bad & you're right... it was Phil Hill & AJ Foyt that won at LeMans... as well as a few others.

I am also wrong about a NASCAR championship... The feat was as the only driver to have won a race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Formula One, and an Indianapolis 500.

 

[vegasnitro]

My bad & you're right... it was Phil Hill & AJ Foyt that won at LeMans... as well as a few others.

I am also wrong about a NASCAR championship... The feat was as the only driver to have won a race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Formula One, and an Indianapolis 500.

USAC used to run a stock car series as a competitor to NASCAR, and if I am not mistaken, Mario won some of those races and maybe the Championship ... so that could have been the stock championship to which he is credited. I believe Bobby Unser also won a bunch of those races. I am too lazy to google it.

When Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt won Le Mans in the Lola leftover known as the Ford GT40, Dan Gurney became the first man to spray champagne on the podium ... a tradition that survives to this day.

I have met Phil Hill a couple of times. He is a great raconteur of days gone by and all-around gentleman. I could listen to him speak about il Commandatore, races and racers long forgotten until the cows come home. He raced at a VERY exciting time in Ferrari history when being a factory driver meant you got the best cars for the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and F1. He is still the only American-born racer to have won the World Championship. As you can probably tell Phil Hill is a personal hero of mine.

PS Juan Pablo Montoya has duplicated Super Mario's feat of winning Indy, a NASCAR race and a F1 race.

 

[G'ginna]

I have met Phil Hill a couple of times. He is a great raconteur of days gone by and all-around gentleman. I could listen to him speak about il Commandatore, races and racers long forgotten until the cows come home. He raced at a VERY exciting time in Ferrari history when being a factory driver meant you got the best cars for the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and F1. He is still the only American-born racer to have won the World Championship. As you can probably tell Phil Hill is a personal hero of mine.

PS Juan Pablo Montoya has duplicated Super Mario's feat of winning Indy, a NASCAR race and a F1 race.

Phil Hill was on teams that won LeMans multiple times wasn't he? He sounds like quite a person.

Very cool... I just haven't been paying as much attention to NASCAR as I have in the past. I knew he had crossed over, but again, haven't been paying attention.

 

[downtime]

As much of a drag race fan and -participant as I am, the number one spot in my opinion, belongs to AJ Foyt. The guy could drive anything and do it well, for many years. In my mind he is the "Garlits" of general automotive sports. Personality does not matter.

 

[vegasnitro]

Phil Hill was on teams that won LeMans multiple times wasn't he? He sounds like quite a person.

Yes, Phil Hill won Le Mans in 1961 ... the same year he won the F1 World Championship ... he won both in a Ferrari ... that's what I call a pretty good year!!!

 

[paoldtimer]

I'm hoping Jim Clark shows up on the list...somewhere.


Greg - didn't mean to infer that Kinser hasn't raced in anything else but I'd be willing to bet that a large majority wouldn't know him outside of sprint car racing. We won't even waste time on his venture into NASCAR with KB since that was all sponsor-driven. He wasn't given a fair shake.

 

[paoldtimer]

Any list that doesn't include Sir Jackie Stewart isn't worth a plugged nickel, so hopefully he will be on there. Won 25% of the F1 races he entered, pioneered driver safety and course safety.

IMO, there is only 1 name that should be on top ... Mario Andretti.

Today's list rates Sir Jackie at 13th, one spot after John Force.

 

[Joker]

No offense, but I think this list is seriously flawed. I'm not a Tony Stewart fan, I mean the guy is def. a great driver but he isint even in the top 25 all time yet. He might be when he's done, but not right now. To put him in front of Kinser, Garlits, etc is just a slap in the face. There's a few more including Shirley who IMHO shouldnt even be on the list with him.

 

[FuelCarBuilder]

Kinser not only DOMINATED his particular brand of racing for 20+ years but also won in IROC and finished 14th at Indy in his first start. No other driver in the history of motorsports can claim such proficiency in any form of racing!

I'm not sure what the last sentence means, but Mario is hands down the most versatile driver of all time. He has won races and championships in more forms of racing than any other that I know of at the top echelon. He also won the "Driver of the Century" award in 2000. The "one series only" drivers don't deserve a spot in the top 10 IMHO. For example, Richard Petty-great guy, great STOCK CAR DRIVER, but not versatile at all. Even though I never liked AJ, he could drive just about anything on wheels. Senna and Schumacher were top notch in F1, but nothing else. I won't ramble on...here's my top 10 based on pure talent and versatility.

1. Mario Andretti
2. Mark Donahue
3. A.J. Foyt
4. Jim Clark
5. Dan Gurney
6. Sterling Moss
7. Tony Stewart
8. Jackie Stewart
9. Nigel Mansell
10. Juan Montoya

 

[merc49]

Only one way to settle this. I say any sum-beehotch who ever pulled on a helmet is number 1. Every one of them.
Case closed.
All heroes.
Without all the hundreds of thousands of losers we never heard of,
our heroes would be less than a memory too.

 

[PJ]

No offense, but I think this list is seriously flawed. I'm not a Tony Stewart fan, I mean the guy is def. a great driver but he isint even in the top 25 all time yet. He might be when he's done, but not right now. To put him in front of Kinser, Garlits, etc is just a slap in the face. There's a few more including Shirley who IMHO shouldnt even be on the list with him.

I would think he does belong. I didn't realize he had raced that much Indy car. I remember the couple fo years when he tried to do the Indy 500 and some nascar race in the same day. I thought that was all the Indy car he did

But to win rookie of the year in both sanction bodies plus championships in two different sports. That has to put you on all time list.


As for #1 I have to go with Mario

 

[paoldtimer]

I would think he does belong. I didn't realize he had raced that much Indy car. I remember the couple fo years when he tried to do the Indy 500 and some nascar race in the same day. I thought that was all the Indy car he did

But to win rookie of the year in both sanction bodies plus championships in two different sports. That has to put you on all time list.


As for #1 I have to go with Mario

He was the first driver to win USACs Triple Crown - winning the titles in the same year for midgets, sprint cars and Silver Crown cars. That is quite an accomplishment. PLUS successfully doing the "double" - the Indy 500 AND the CocaCola 600 all in the same day is amazing - all 1100 miles.

Tony is high on my list!

 

[StockersRock]

OH boy, John Force is in.

At #12.

Ok, kids - DISCUSS!!!

 

[BaldyLochs]

Neil Bonnett
Bobby Allison
Evel Knevil

And you know, as always I have to insert my token smartass comment about Tony Stewart.... The reason he didn't take the '94 USAC National championship .... was because of a guy named Doug Kalitta!

 

[D]

You know I noticed they didn't count Big and Shirley's IHRA/AHRA championships and wins, which makes their resumes more impressive. Also I guess because he's on the panel he can't be selected, but KB should at least get an honorable mention for six NHRA championships one IHRA championship, technical innovation with Dale Armstrong and car ownership in NASCAR, CART & NHRA. What are Glidden's and WJ's win and championship totals when you add in IHRA/AHRA?

S/F
D

 

[Erik]

top 5: foyt, andretti, earnhardt, schu, senna

I would have had the top 2 flip flopped, but when drivers are that good and equal, it is almost just a toss up

 

[PJ]

ESPN - List Ranker - Auto Racing: Top 25 Drivers

of their 25 you can rank them as you see fit.