Poll: Best Formula One Racer Ever!

[FlashHarry]

I expect to get about two responses for this. Being an F1 fan over here is a lonely experience... sniff.

[ewagner]

1. Boy, that' s tough

I don't think anybody will match Michael Schumaker, but there were some really great drivers in the past who did a lot with a lot less technology. Jackie Stewert comes to mind. Graham Hill for another. Until the accident I think the driver who captured the essence of F! was Alex Zanardi: wild, daring, aggressive.......

Haven't followed F1 for a few years but I still have a fondness for it. Went to a SCCA school when I was 21 and drove a formula Vee. Damned near peed my pants but I'll never forget it..(many, many moons ago)

[FlashHarry]

3. Yeah. AZ was a real driver.

Actually, he's back racing--touring cars, I think.

[madrchsod]

6. yes- i just saw a

video clip of him driving his first race back in a touring car

[MaineDem]

16. FVs are cool!

Great race cars and probably the best group of friendly racers around. They are always quite willing to help each other out. It's fun to be around them.

[peacebuzzard]

2. you are not alone.

I love the rush.

[many a good man]

4. Speed Racer

His Mach I was awesome!

But who was that silly chimp friend of his?

[madrchsod]

5. i`m going with the old guys

driving those old monsters on narrow roads,skinny tires,and no crash protection..that was the test of a driver.i grew up reading autocar in the 50`s and read alot about those guys so i`m parcial to them

[ewagner]

7. Okay....in your opinion...

who was the greatest Italian race driver?

ehehehehehe

[FlashHarry]

8. I dunno...

...but for pure racing, I have to go with Senna.

[Mikimouse]

12. Nuvolari

n/t

[BiggJawn]

9. Nuvolari...."He was as safe as houses"

Is how his riding mechanic described him.

Hans Stuck didn't do too shabby piloting that monstrous Auto-Union around the courses, either....

[FlashHarry]

11. The rear-engine ones of the thirties?

Those were real widow-makers. Unruly as hell.

[Mikimouse]

13. As usual, I'm asleep at the switch...

I posted my response to the question about Italiam drivers before I saw your earlier response. At least we agree.

[Twillig]

10. ah, I voted for Schumacher.

Of the drivers I have seen it's him or Senna.

My interest in F1 waned in the 80's after the retirement of Andretti and the death of Villeneuve. Got back into watching in '92.

Here's the highlights of the Villeneuve/Arnoux fight at Dijon in 1979.

(right click and save as)

www.speakeasy.org/~wemmick/dijon79.wmv
enjoy!

[Zero Gravitas]

14. Senna

Having watched all of Senna's F1 career and all of Schumacher's I'd say that as good as Schumacher is, he's no Senna (despite owning all the records except for Senna's record number of Polls). I'm no Schumacher hater either, I've been a Ferrari fan since the early 80s and I am enjoying (finaly) their current dominance.

Ascari, Clark & Fangio were before my time and they were no doubt great drivers, but it was a different era, apples to oranges... and I have no way of knowing how they would stack up against a Senna or a Mansel or a Schumacher.

[MaineDem]

15. I go with Senna

I know "what if" isn't valid but he had the potential to outperform the greats who came before him. I would have loved to see him and Schumi (Michael of course) in more head-to-head competition. I miss Senna. F1 hasn't been the same since that day in Monza.

[Zech Marquis]

17. Schumacher will have all the records

but Senna will always be the MAN for me. :-)