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Post by trevor83 on Apr 10, 2011 13:44:00 GMT -5
Has everybody had a chance to pick your Greatest 33? I'm curious to see what others think compared to my selections. I'm still sorting out my final 3 rows but just about done. www.thegreatest33.com |
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Post by indycals on Apr 10, 2011 14:02:16 GMT -5
I'll stir the pot a bit: Al Unser Jr did not make my 33... but Peter Revson and Eddie Sachs did.
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Post by 2lapsdown on Apr 10, 2011 18:31:21 GMT -5
Michael, I'm a huge Revson fan and didn't know until very recently that Pete had signed to drive for Penske at Indy before he died. That fact along with his death broke my heart as I'm sure that with The Captain Pete would have won at least one Indy 500. Having said that I'm curious as to why Pete and not Little Al?
John
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Post by indycals on Apr 10, 2011 19:34:40 GMT -5
Little Al never impressed me at Indy. His two wins we're handed to him and his one pole position (in fact his only front row start) was with a car that had about a 100hp advantage over everyone but his team mates. He rarely ever lead the race, and with the exception of 1989 was never in position to win the race outright.
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Post by indycals on Apr 10, 2011 19:37:03 GMT -5
As for Revson, in his first four starts had 1 pole, another front row start, a second place, and in 1969 he was robbed of Rookie of the year. Donohue started fourth and finished 7th. Revson, was the slowest qualifier, started dead last, but managed to bring his Repco-Brabham home in fifth. How he didn't get ROY is beyond me.
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Post by 2lapsdown on Apr 11, 2011 7:34:04 GMT -5
69 was the year I jumped on the Revson bandwagon. I remember he was still on the track as the gun sounded during qualifying. I don't think Pete has ever gotten his due for all he accomplished at Indy and around the world. I feel to much was made of his family background and he was never fully recognized as the great driver he was. It's nice to know others feel the same way.
John
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Post by illeagle10 on Apr 11, 2011 14:10:07 GMT -5
Anyone winning a 500 deserves to be on the list. Just to win one is tough enough just by judging from the comments so far. Many drivers would not have won one much less a couple of more if it hadn't been for the misfortune of others.
67 and 68 come first to my mind when the turbines had the field covered. Foyt would not have had his third and B. Unser his first. It would've been Parnelli's second and Leonard's first. The same in 87, Mario had the field covered. He would've had his second instead of Unser's fourth. In 92 Michael had the field covered and it would've been his first instead of Unser Jr's first. Hence the old racer's adage, "you have to first finish, to finish first!"
It's like picking the great quaterbacks in football. There have been many greats like Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts and my favorite Dan Marino, all of them have great records, but none of them have a superbowl. However, you have guys like Tom Brady, Joe Montana and John Elway while not quite the stats of others are remembered for their Superbowl wins!
33 is just not enough for all the great drivers and stories. It's very hard to compare and choose drivers. I thought it would be easy at first choosing my 33, but my list is still incomplete at this time.
Jim
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