Who is/was the best race car driver ever?

Best race car driver and why?

  • Jeff Gordon

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Dale Earnhardt

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Richard Petty

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Al Unser

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Mario Andretti

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Michael Schumacher

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Darryl Waltrip

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other Specify

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
AndyC_1 said:
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.
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I remember the incidents with Damon Hill (I liked Hill better by the way) The only time that I recall Schumacher failed to deliver was the year (98?) he lost the championship to Hakkinen, decided in Suzuka.



Maybe I am wrong, but I like the current crop of F1 pilots: Montoya, Raikkönen, Button and Alonso. The big problem was being consistent. After the tight race last year, I thought 2004 was going to be very close. Montoya is explosive, but inconsistent. Raikkonen is more balanced, but dull as you mentioned. Button is great and Alonso is young and too daring. The season wasn't that exciting because Ferrari was too dominant, but there were some very interesting races (Shangai for example, I was waxing the wheels during the breaks and watching the action... I thought Button could beat Barrichello in the third pit stop, but didn't happen :( The wax got hard in the wheels....)



Forecast for next year:

Schumacher 8 championship, but Ferrari goes to third in the constructors table behind McLaren and BAR ;)
 
Got to go with one of these guys, tough to pick "the best" just like it's tough to pick the best NFL running back (Brown, Peyton, Sayers, OJ, Sanders, E.Smith, etc...) 'cause of changing technology:



Schumacher, Senna, Jim Stewart, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sterling Moss come to mind in no particular order.



All great, all dominating in their time.
 
Barney Oldfield: Barney Oldfield was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, race drivers of all time. His name is so meshed with racing that even those who don't follow the sport recognize it.
 
VictoryRed,



First let me say I am not putting down NASCAR, but the article is flawed in its analysis of the two type of racing. NASCAR is a specification series with very restrictive rules so that there is a high level of competition among the cars. Items such as universal template for aero dynamics, the same tires and the same fuel all come to mind as ways the NASCAR sanction body really âہ“controlsâ€Â� the competition. It all geared to produce a race on Sunday with lots of lead changes and many different winners.



F1 on the other hand is much different (although slowly creeping towards a spec. series much to my dismay). The rules are written in such a way to allow the teams to develop a car based on their interpretation of the rules. This is why no two teams have the same aero dynamics, chassis, engines, brakes, electronics, etc. Each spends an enormous amount of money testing to determine what they feel is best the solution. Development and continual changes to the car take place during the season. Tire compounds are different by the brands and sometimes even different within the brands. Some designs and combinations work better different tracks. Sometimes the pieces fall into place where the best car/tire/driver all get together at once (i.e. Ferrari/Schumacher and arguably Bridgestone) which results in run away championships. But even then there are some great races.



This not to say one is better than the other, just completely different. In fact, the two series are too different to compare, and based on who wins a race and the number of lead changes as suggested by the article. A comparison of the IRL and NASCAR may be better because of similar rules and the type of tracks.



Obviously in the US there are many fans of the oval NASCAR spec. type of racing with many lead changes. At the same time there many fans of F1 that like the technologies involved, the very complicated strategies, the continual development of the cars during the course of a season as much or more than multiple lead changes on the same lap.



Personally I think the rule changes that the FIA has been imposing to improve the show of F1 are destroying the competition more than helping. The one lap qualifying is crap. The old method of a shoot out for the fastest lap with a maximum of 12 laps during an hour sessions was highly entertaining. I also really donâ€â„¢t like the new points system based on rewarding for consistent showings vs. winning. The new tire rule for 2005 looks like a horrible idea, not to mention the proposed plain to have spec. brakes that arenâ€â„¢t carbon.
 
blkZ28Conv said:
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
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i have to agree.
 
Hands down Ayrton Senna da Silva :bow

He was killed that sunday afternoon in april or may. He was good, but given more time he would have been the pre michael shumacher.
 
These guys are all great drivers and we all have our favorite, but if you put your ego aside Michael Schumacher is the best driver of all time. Not only has he broken all the records, he is still alive.



In fact Eddie Cheaver said that Michael is so good that he would win championchips no matter what form of motorsport he would compete in. Now that is a compliment.
 
This is a hard poll to answer, I think it depends on the championship.



In F1 I would say Senna.



In NASCAR I would say Richard Petty



In CART I would say Mario Andretti



In Australian touring cars I would say Jim Richards



Thats my .02c worth.



Cheers

Dave.
 
In F1, cant make my mind up between Senna and Schumi.



Dave, have to agree in Aussie touring cars Jim Richards is awesome.
 
tdekany said:
These guys are all great drivers and we all have our favorite, but if you put your ego aside Michael Schumacher is the best driver of all time. Not only has he broken all the records, he is still alive.



In fact Eddie Cheaver said that Michael is so good that he would win championchips no matter what form of motorsport he would compete in. Now that is a compliment.
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Until a driver "actually" races many forms of racing all else is only a guess at best.



I love Michael Schumacher and his technical, natural skill and passion for F1 racing but until he demostrates his assumed versatility at the highest level of other racing formats and vehicles, I can only place him with greats of F1.

Do not forget other F1 greats made the attempt to conquer Indy 500 and Jim Clark and Mario actually won one. :xyxthumbs



I am still trying to comprehend where egos are involved in this discussion. :nixweiss
 
blkZ28Conv said:
Until a driver "actually" races many forms of racing all else is only a guess at best.



I love Michael Schumacher and his technical, natural skill and passion for F1 racing but until he demostrates his assumed versatility at the highest level of other racing formats and vehicles, I can only place him with greats of F1.

Do not forget other F1 greats made the attempt to conquer Indy 500 and Jim Clark and Mario actually won one. :xyxthumbs



I am still trying to comprehend where egos are involved in this discussion. :nixweiss
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Believe me I could care less about what people think who is BEST.



I am nothing like you:nixweiss :D
 
tdekany said:
In fact Eddie Cheaver said that Michael is so good that he would win championchips no matter what form of motorsport he would compete in. Now that is a compliment.

Believe me I could care less about what people think who is BEST.
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So why quote Eddie Cheevers to justify your vote? :nixweiss
 
blkZ28Conv said:
So why quote Eddie Cheevers to justify your vote? :nixweiss
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I didn't mention it to justify my vote - I didn't even vote.



Drop it & get rid of your ego. Life is much more satisfying that way.
 
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