Who is your favorite driver and why?

[SteveG]

Both being Italian immigrants, when I say Mario people think it's a no brainer. But it's more than just that. When I first came to the States, my English was atrocious and as a young pre teen it totally isolated me as I couldn't communicate with people my age. I had to attend grade school but was totally lost. A kindly school principal named Mrs. Santini tried to tutor me after school, but it was just difficult for me to learn. I was frustrated and depressed, to say the least.

At the time, I watched American racing on TV in glorious B&W! I knew of Indy and Daytona, but was blown away by seeing the Indy drivers racing front engined cars on dirt! I knew nothing about midgets, sprints or Dirt Champ cars but quickly learned and became a life long fan.

Naturally, I knew of Mario Andretti. But it was an interview on one racing broadcast that made me a fan. He spoke perfect English! So polished that it gleamed. I felt that if he could do it, so could I. So, I really put my head down and spent an hour or so after school with Mrs. Santini tutoring me, and even went to her house on Saturdays to continue learning. It was still difficult at first but slowly I started to get it. She was as good as gold and I owe her so much. To this day I can read, write, and speak perfect English with barely an accent.

So aside from his charisma and accomplishments, Mario is and will always be my favorite driver for inspiring me so.

Now, who is your favorite driver and why?

[indycals]

Steve - if you ever get to meet Mario I'm sure he'd love to hear your story.

Mine is also Mario.

[SteveG]

Dec 30, 2023 17:12:47 GMT -5 indycals said:

Steve - if you ever get to meet Mario I'm sure he'd love to hear your story.

Mine is also Mario.

Thanks Michael. I tried to talk to him once at a race meeting but he was too busy signing as many autographs as possible before being whisked back to the business at hand, as he always did. So an autograph and a wink from the man was just fine.

[kyledehart5]

What an excellent story! I had many favorite drivers over the years, starting as a kid when I chose them based off of what their cars looked like, the stunning purple of Buddy Lazier, the incomparably colored Telefonica Reynard of Oriol Servia. Also forever AJ Foyt, who I had the good fortune to meet at the Brickyard the first year during practice. I had grown up on stories of AJ, Mario, Parnelli and the Unsers and my Dad spotted AJ sitting in his hospitality tent. It was open on both ends so we walked right in. His handlers quickly tried to shoo us back out but AJ saw my brother and I and called us over. We got handshakes and a quick word and then he had hero cards of his NASCAR brought out and autographed them for us. He then allowed his people to send us out the tent, out the opposite in we walked in. When we left we noticed the sign "private event" lol. Back in those days no one was bothering much about who might walk up. No doubt today there would be people watching and we'd never get the opportunity. It was gracious of him to take the time to talk to a couple kids who weren't supposed to be there anyways.

[SteveG]

Dec 30, 2023 20:50:14 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

What an excellent story! I had many favorite drivers over the years, starting as a kid when I chose them based off of what their cars looked like, the stunning purple of Buddy Lazier, the incomparably colored Telefonica Reynard of Oriol Servia. Also forever AJ Foyt, who I had the good fortune to meet at the Brickyard the first year during practice. I had grown up on stories of AJ, Mario, Parnelli and the Unsers and my Dad spotted AJ sitting in his hospitality tent. It was open on both ends so we walked right in. His handlers quickly tried to shoo us back out but AJ saw my brother and I and called us over. We got handshakes and a quick word and then he had hero cards of his NASCAR brought out and autographed them for us. He then allowed his people to send us out the tent, out the opposite in we walked in. When we left we noticed the sign "private event" lol. Back in those days no one was bothering much about who might walk up. No doubt today there would be people watching and we'd never get the opportunity. It was gracious of him to take the time to talk to a couple kids who weren't supposed to be there anyways.

That's a great story too, Kyle! I've had the opportunity to talk with many USAC drivers over the years like Mel Kenyon, Mike Mosley and Larry Dickson, to name a few, but no one on Foyt's level. He always had a reputation as being good with kids and this shows that clearly.

[tonyk14]

AJ Foyt. Always liked a driver that could race every type of car. Also liked his attitude and being outspoken and in the more present day Tony Stewart became my favorite driver because he was so much like Foyt. My wife always said I liked these guys because they were a holes like me.

Many more "favorite" drivers through the years but AJ Foyt always stands out as #1.

[SteveG]

Had he lived, Peter Revson would have been another favorite driver for me. Like most, I thought he was just a rich playboy that could go quick at times. Reading his posthumous autobiography "Speed With Style" changed all that. He came off as a very down to earth person and a serious racer. Reading about his combative relationship with Teddy Mayer was a hoot. Mayer maintained that Revson didn't know how "to operate a clutch", and used that as an excuse to offer Revson less money to continue driving for Mclaren in F1 in 1974. I wish he wrote ten more bios, but sadly it was not to be.

[SteveG]

Another favorite was Dan Gurney but he quickly retired from driving as soon as I became aware of him. Another great driver who excelled in so many disciplines.

[raceparke]

For me, a toss up between Mario and Dan Gurney. Both great all-rounders.

[sandysixtysfan]

Dan Gurney. As good a talent that ever squeezed into a race and an all around class act.

Sandy

[arcticwolf]

Gilles Villeneuve. No one else ever drove like Gilles.

[tonyk14]

Yes, Gilles was my favorite but unfortunately only a short time but lives on as a fond memory. I could go on with favorite drivers in different racing forms but that would get out of hand for me. hehe

[SteveG]

Whenever I hear the name Villeneuve, I immediately think of the great wheel banging race he had with Rene Arnoux in the '79 French GP. He was fighting for 2nd pace at the finish but that 2nd place was as important as a win to him. I doubt that we'll ever see the likes of Gilles again.

[quattro]

Villeneuve. Peterson. Andretti.
I know you said driver, but these guys mean/meant so much to me at various levels.

You waited for Giles to come round every lap just to see what angle he would have the car at.
Nothing was ever a forgone conclusion with him charging around.

You waited for Ronnie to see how much earlier and harder he could hit the loud pedal.

Mario is just Mr Motorsport for me. Done, won and seen so much with such class.

[indy]

Rick Mears. Got one of the big plastic Pennzoil cars before we moved from Indy in 1983 then watched him the '84 500 on TV and never have stopped being his fan. Many others I have liked, but nothing as consistent or deep as Rocket. In 1992, before he retired, I had Mears pegged as the 500 winner in 1993 and 1994 due to him winning in smaller and small intervals each time he won Indy.

Recently with a friend on this board, we discussed the what if of Mears going to F1 with Brabham and driving Gordon Murray's creations like the BT52. I think Mears would have done well in F1 especially given he would have avoided almost losing his feet at Sanair in the 1984 CART practice and the issues that injury later caused racing road courses.

Excited about all the cars that have come out recently that Mears has driven.

Jordan