Who is/was the best race car driver ever?

[imported_Burlyq]

Best Race Car Driver Ever??

 

[Richt]

Ayrton Senna

 

[Lowejackson]

Senna

 

[imported_pugoman]

I'm not a massive fan of motorsport - but as soon as I saw the title to this thread, only one name came into my mind...



Senna.

 

[Andrew Timmins]

Senna.

 

[nuff]

Senna

 

[jimtriz]

I know there will probably be a lot of static about this one, but I feel Tony Stewart is one of the great ones. He races just about anything with wheels, Cup cars, Bush cars, Indy cars, Sprint cars, dirt cars, and has proven himself a champion at several of them. Many feel he is a whiny cry baby or a hothead, but I think his temperment on and off the track comes from his determination to win and do the best he can. OK, feel free to take shots at this post, I'm used to it when it comes to talking about Tony!!!

 

[6cyl's_of_fury]

Senna - no brainer...

 

[imported_garyo]

Senna...no question...although a good argument could be made for Schumacher or Fangio

 

[TheShinyMama]

SENNA is the best!!!! Schumacher is almost there.:bow

 

[tripper_111]

Schumacher.

 

[e-klasse]

Senna... nobody compares to the great one.

 

[SpoiledMan]

One that is not mentioned is Nigel Mansell. He has won championships in at least 3 different types of racing. Senna is my guy but I still have to pick Schumacher.

 

[imported_memnuts]

If we are talking about the best driver in many categories it has to be Mario (F1,Cart, NASCAR, endurace racing, dirt track, CanAM, Trans AM, F3000 and you name it he was a winner.

An American sports hero and gentleman. :bow



Most exciting drivers:Gilles Villeneuve, Senna, Ronnie Peterson and Jim Clark



Most calculating (cerebral) drivers: M. Schmacher, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost



Most endearing drivers and Champions: Alex Zenardi and Mark Donahue (fellow Brown Univ alumnus).

 

[AlexRuiz]

Honorable mentions to Senna, Mansell and Fangio, but if you have seen race Schumacher you will understand why he is the best. Right now he is unbeatable because he is a better driver and has superior car and team, but back when he was in Benetton he had inferior car and teams, and he still managed to win.



By the way, who voted Gordon or Earnhardt? :lol:

 

[AndyC_1]

Senna as a spitirual driver - operated on a higher plane than anyone. Indeed, I read a quote once that cited the cause of the accident at Imola as being because he was arguing with God. That's in no way intended to be offensive, purely a demonstration of his genius behind the wheel.



Scumacher as a technician - no-one gets more from a team, car and all those around it. Just look at him when he does end up at the back - still races like a rookie trying to prove something. And before people start with "he's got the best car" argument, remember Senna had strong cars for much of his career too! (think McLaren - 15 wins from 16 races in a single season and all 1-2's aswell)



Gilles Villenueve (flamboyant, like a son to Enzo), Lauda (bravery and courage beyond human comprehension), Prost (again, a technical genius), Clark (a farmer who won in everything he raced).



Too many more to list here without boring you - F1, Indy, saloons, historics etc etc. Senna and Schumi stand out for me because I've grown up with them and it raises the debate similar to "would Ali whup Tyson?" every time for me.

 

[togwt]

In no particular order- Mario Andretti, Jim Clark, Gilles Villaneux, Schumacher, Niki Lauda Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart (did more for racetrack safety than any other driver/owner).



Not to mention- Gordon, Earnhart, Petty, et al

 

[AndyC_1]

Honorable mentions to Senna, Mansell and Fangio, but if you have seen race Schumacher you will understand why he is the best. Right now he is unbeatable because he is a better driver and has superior car and team, but back when he was in Benetton he had inferior car and teams, and he still managed to win.



By the way, who voted Gordon or Earnhardt? :lol:

Too true - Gerhard Berger was quoted as saying that the 93/94 Benetton cars handled like dogs and yet Schuey secured 2 world titles, albeit with one under decidedly iffy circumstances (remember Hill doing a Dukes of Hazzard on that corner?)



And the current crop of F1 talent has yet to impress at all - if only Montoya could show the same race pace as during qualifying he'd be a serious contender, Raikkonen is plain dull and can only compete in a car which is the best in the field (and who'd bet against Ferrari grabbing him when Schumacher retires?...)



Button is the one to watch IMO - guided initially by David Richards (who let's not forget took the farmer's favourite - in the UK at least - to numerous WRC titles) - quiet and hard working and in the right car to challenge Ferrari's dominance.



BUT Formula 1 needs to sort itself out big time - the glory days of the 70's/80's were dangerous yes but glamorous and all my school friends wanted to be James Hunt and co. F1 needs to make itself exciting again otherwise the fans WILL defect to other motorsport formulae.

 

[RedondoV6]

In no particular order- Mario Andretti, Jim Clark, Gilles Villaneux, Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart (did more for racetrack safety than any other driver/owner).



Not to mention- Gordon, Earnhart, Petty, et al

I agree with your list of names, except I'd include Senna, Fangio and Sterling Moss (he won in formula 1,2 and 3, hillclimbing, sports and touring car races, cross country rallies and world speed records!)



Which one is THE best? Your guess is as good as mine! In their time, each of these drivers was respected and seen as the man to beat.

 

[imported_jgv]

Schumi