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Post by bicv8 on Oct 26, 2009 8:37:53 GMT -5
imo what does your list look like?
15. Tony Kanaan
14. Joe Leonard
13. Al Unser Jr.
12. Michael Andretti
11. Emerson Fittipaldi
10. Bobby Rahal
9. Scott Dixon
8. Al Unser Sr.
7. Jimmy Bryan
6. Sébastien Bourdais
5. Rodger Ward
4. TRick Mears
3. Mario Andretti
2. Ted Horn
1. AJ Foyt
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Post by professor on Oct 26, 2009 8:50:07 GMT -5
What about Shaw, Vukovich, Rose, Meyer, Lockhart, Mays and many others.
I really like Kanaan but I don't see him in the top thirty
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Post by clm1545 on Oct 26, 2009 9:12:20 GMT -5
Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has one. To me any list that does not include Vuky and Sam Hornish is very flawed.
Comparing drivers from different eras never works. In the last 15 years the best oval racers I saw were Michael Andretti and Sam Hornish Jr, but as I said, thats just my opinion. My all time favorite will always be Dan Gurney and AJ is in a class of his own.
My $.02
Craig
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Post by indy on Oct 26, 2009 9:51:53 GMT -5
If we accept that these are just opinions and should be taken lightly then this thread can be fun. Let's stay away from attacking anyone's opinion (unless their lists include Dr. Jack Miller or Hiro Matsushita - LOL)
Or how about this - post your list of 15 without putting them in any particular order or giving them a number rank!
Remember this can be a fun discussion as the history of Indy-style cars has 100 years of history and has therefore run on many various types of racing circuits. No list will be perfect so if you are willing to post imperfection - have at it! ;D
Jordan
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Post by Calvin on Oct 26, 2009 10:43:09 GMT -5
I really dont like to rank anyone but, did it anyway....
1. AJ Foyt
2. Al Unser Sr.
3. Rick Mears
4. Bobby Unser
5. Mario Andetti
6. Rodger Ward
7. Johnny Rutherford
8. Ted Horn
9. Jim Clark
10. Parnelli Jones
11. Gordon Johncock
12. Mark Donohue
13. Al Unser Jr.
14. Bobby Rahal
15. Emerson Fittipaldi
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Post by indy on Oct 26, 2009 11:27:48 GMT -5
LOL - talk about hard to get it down to 15 drivers!! I looked at multiple Indy 500 winners.... 16 of them and if you cut one of them then you are still leaving out exceptional drivers win one or no Indy 500 wins like Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Mark Donohue, Gil de Ferran, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Sam Hornish, Parnelli Jones, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jim Rathmann, Jim Clark, Troy Ruttman, Jacques Villenueve, Alex Zanardi, Sebastian Bourdais, and others!
So, I'll say it again - no way to get all of the "greats" in just a list of 15 drivers. Just post what you think and it will be cool to see everyone's opinions on this subject ;D
Jordan
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2009 12:29:46 GMT -5
Not in order (except 1 and 2): Mario A.J. Mears Unser x3 Vukovich Joe Leonard Emo Zanardi Rodger Ward Wilbur Shaw Bobby Rahal Michael Andretti Jimmy Bryan If we accept that these are just opinions and should be taken lightly then this thread can be fun. Let's stay away from attacking anyone's opinion (unless their lists include Dr. Jack Miller or Hiro Matsu(expletive deleted)a - LOL) Jordan I second that. Let's add Fabrizio Barbazza to that list shall we, despite his 3rd place at Indy in '87. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2009 13:42:28 GMT -5
Okay.....here's a subject bound to start arguments.
Well, I do remember a few years ago, 1999 to be exact, that Driver Magazine did this topic as an article to end the millennium and those wing nuts at Driver, lead by the moronic Robin Miller, stated that the "Greatest Indy Car Driver of the First Century" was none other than Mario Andretti due to the fact that Andretti won the F-1 World Driving Championship!....WHAT THE F***!!!!! I recall one time when Robin Miller was in the media center at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway trying to get none other than Chris Economaki into this conversation and Mr. Economaki would have none of it. Everyone knows that Miller has had a personal crusade against Foyt for decades...and that Mr. Economaki has stated many time, in many places that he felt that if you put wheels on anything, Foyt would drive it to win or bust his rump trying. One of the many reason I still hate Robin Miller....I know hate is a harsh word, but I do hate Robin Miller! Along with Charlie Manson, Adolph Hitler and William Shatner....I have met three of the four personally too, so I guess I'm being fair.
Now, back to the topic at hand...When Driver announced their pick for the greatest Indy Driver of All-Time, Chris Economaki said, "Don't include me on this one, you are all on your own!" and left the room. Now I have followed the Indy 500 for almost 43 years and have read about it for as long as I can remember. I really dislike when the ESPN Generation that think if it didn't happen on ESPN, it doesn't count. Like the morons that claim Babe Ruth wasn't "that good" due to the fact that he never face a black pitcher? Well, Ruth hit the ball without steroids as well, so there it is. I still fell ESPN has ruined many in the sports broadcasting industry. They keep Brent Musburger hired and that alone proves my point.
So here is my somewhat educated list of top 15. Now, just remember that like with all top anything lists....when you reach the top 5, it becomes subjective to what order you want to place them, but my number one is almost anyone's number one as well. In some cases, I give my reasons for the selection.
15. Troy Ruttman - Stated by almost all that raced against him, Troy was a natural driver and did things behind the wheel that were nothing short of amazing. Ashame Troy had a long time affair with mother bottle, for we all don't know how great Ruttman truly was.
14. Dan Gurney - What he did as a car manufacture alone places him on this list, but Dan could driver anything well!
13. Bobby Unser - I don't like him as a person, but you can not deny his abilities as a driver.
12. Parnelli Jones - He called it quits way too soon! As Johnny Rutherford stated, "If you don't include Parnelli Jones at the top of any list of driver that ran at Indy, you just have no idea on what you are talking about." Even the great American Jerk Bobby Unser, who owes his driving career to Parnelli was nice when he said, "Didn't matter what car it was he was driving, Parnelli would get into it and make it go faster than anyone else."
11. Mario Andretti - To quote a driver on this list as well, "The main trouble with Mario at Indy was, he abused the hell out of the car he was driving. If he was to realize that to finish first, you must finish...MArio would have won at Indy at least 5 times."
10. Louie Meyer - Louie won in his first "official" start at Indy, and won 3 500's and maintained the Offenhauser Engine after he was finished driving...and then was out jet skiing a few months before his death in his mid 80's
9. Johnny Rutherford - A 3 time winner and a man that started in Roadsters and finished in ground effects machines.
8. Rodger Ward - No one. with eh exception of the next driver, can match his record of finishes from 1959 to 1964.....finishing in the top 5 for 6 straight years.
7. Ted Horn - A non 500 winner, his career was still amazing! In his first race in 1935, he finished 16th due to faulty steering...and then didn't finish out of the top 5 for the next 8 years driving in his era...all I can say is WOW!
6. Jimmy Clark - He is rank this low due the fact that Clark drove at Indy for all-time jerk Colin Chapman, but, Clark lead in the first 4 races he drove at Indy...and it would have been more wins if he drove for another car owner...I still maintain that Clark won back to back 500's, but that's a story for another day.
5. Bill Vukovich - Vuky lead in four straight 500's and quite possibly had won all four! A faulty car design robbed him in 1952 and he died chasing number three in 1955. He was amazing. In just 5 races, Vuky lead 485 laps, still in the top 10 all-time at the Speedway.
4. Wilbur Shaw - My Grandfather's favorite diver. What can you say about a man that built his first winning car while getting a second and third degree burn on his foot while doing so. He drove to two more victories in the most beautiful Indy Car ever, the Boyle Maserati and then was one of the men most responsible for the 500 lasting as long as it has. No mistake it was Tony Hulman's money, but it was Wilbur Shaw's idea for him to buy the Speedway.
3. Rick Mears - Mears would ran one placed higher on my list is had of driven for another team owner other than Penske, but you can't deny his greatness even then...but the top two drivers are really that much better.
2. Al Unser Sr. - One fact stands alone with Al Unser Sr......he knew how to bring a car home. This was displayed to all when he took a POS Buick Powered Menard Lola to it's first 500 finish ever in 1992. Al Unser has finish more 500, heck more Indy Car Races than any other driver!
1. A.J. Foyt - What can I say that hasn't been said. Simply put, the greatest Indy Car Driver ever! I feel sorry for those that didn't see Foyt drive in his prime. The Greatest Indy Car Mechanic ever, George Bignotti told me of the time, at Langhorne, Foyt was leading the race and driving that devil track with one hand and holding onto a broken rear suspension part in his left hand while doing it. Think what you will about the man, but you cannot deny his greatness. Most driver who raced against him agree....like most on this list, Foyt was the best ever.
Now, I must remind all of you that this list went over four or five reviasions...and I left off four or five drivers that should have been on it..like Ralph DePalma, Tommy Milton and Frank Lockhart, but the list was for only the top 15. Okay, that's my top 15...what is your..
Best to you all
Russ
P.S. - Now for names like Tazoi Nuvolari and Jaun Manuel Fangio.....the greast drivers are.....
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Post by mrindy77 on Oct 26, 2009 14:51:44 GMT -5
I put some stipulations on my list....I had to have actually seen them race. The topic did not specify whether or not they ran the "500" or not and USAC encompasses more than just Indy cars.
So here's my list...
Tony Stewart
Gary Bettenhausen
Larry Dickson
Steve Butler
Rich Vogler
Mel Kenyon
AJ Foyt
Mario Andretti
Al Unser Sr.
Rick Mears
Johnny Rutherford
Jeff Gordon
Bobby Unser
Gordon Johncock
Sam Hornish
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Post by Calvin on Oct 26, 2009 20:13:25 GMT -5
13. Bobby Unser - I don't like him as a person, but you can not deny his abilities as a driver. I do... ;D I think he's funny ;D |
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