It is hard to narrow it down. Taking into account the variables such as strength of competition, equipment etc. One thing that I did notice was that no matter what you factor into or out of your picks of the best 5 ever the same names crop up.

1. A.J Foyt-4 Indy 500's, a Daytona 500, The 24 Hours of LeMans, Sebring and countless USAC victories make this rough and tumble Texan the very best.

2. Mario Andretti--As versatile as AJ, winner 1 Indy 500, the 1978 F1 champ, 1 itme Daytona winner.

3. Dale Earnhardt--Lacked the versatility but still one of the best ever. 76 NASCAR victories, 7 times WC Champ. The Indimidator.

4. Cale Yaborough--Tough as nails and 84 WC victories. Lucky to be alive, a true champ.

5. Micheal Andretti-I think Micheal was the ultimate "wheel man" who technically was the best but lacked the fearlessness when it mattered the most.

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It's a good joke until someone get's hurt, then it's HILARIOUS!!

Southeat Asian's Rule behind the wheel, fool.

Then, the Chinese.



All those Yanks are pussies.

crawly=polesmoking raghead.

Rick Mears would be right up there also.

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Wins 200 -- Top Tens over 700. I'm not much of a fan, as I only watch big track races, and I cannot stand the road races. But I fail to see how anyone could leave the King out of the top 5. BD

Richard Petty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dizzy I agree with you. I should have listed Petty at #4 or #5. I think Petty is definately one tough customer and has forgotten more than many great drivers know. I also had to consider Jeff Gordon and Ayrton Senna. I should have went to a top 10 instead of a top 5.

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It's a good joke until someone get's hurt, then it's HILARIOUS!!

The King only won so many races because of the lack of competition and he had the Hemy. I have no respect for the king after what he said about Willy T. Ribbs.

But this is kind of funny:

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Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -Albert Einstein

Information is not knowledge. - Albert Einstein

I lean toward the F1 drivers. I would pick
Sterling Moss
John Surtees (he could drive anything on wheels)
Michael Schumacher
Juan Manuel Fangio
Mario Andretti (another driver who has won just about every major race in the world)
Ayrton Senna
Alberto Ascari
Bernd Rosemeyer
Jimmy Stewart
Phil Hill (The first American to win the Formula One world championship, Andretti being the other)

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

Its much like the "Pete Rose" scandal, one can not take away form the greatness displayed on the field due to personal political concerns or habits. The credit was earned, even in the choice of what power train to use in his automobile sponsorship, as the "mind" as well as the body leads to victory, as the others "complain". The skill of the "competition has not changed, only the technology that has made many an unskilled driver look as if they were great. This also can be comparable with other sports as far as technological advances go. Take for instance the game of golf. As one can not compare any two different generations due to superior quality in the advancement of the equipment, this is obviously demonstrated by the continued need to add yardage to courses as the average distance for driving the ball has went from 250 yards to well over 300, and its certainly not due to the advancement in any individual skill level. If you want to see "skill" demonstrated make everyone play with exactly the same equipment from the ball down to each individual club, then indeed the cream would rise to the top. This is what made Petty so great, he was not the only one driving in the Mopar sponsorship....no? In fact, ALL the cars where supposed to be set up within specified guidelines. He was just the most skillful. BD

Your statement is well thought out and true, I don't like when people try to compare era's either, then was then now is now, Like the Steelers of the 70's against the Patriot's of the 2000's you can not compare. Or like Ali against Tyson a different era.
But I do have a bone to pick.
I always say that when you saw Larry Bird you probably saw only one of him, When you saw Jordan there was probably three of him that you never saw, When You saw Magic Johnson there was probably five of him that you never saw
My meaning:
It depends on what color you were,were you were brought up,how you were
raised etc..etc..,the cream does not always rise to the top sometimes it gets flat before it gets there.

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Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -Albert Einstein

Information is not knowledge. - Albert Einstein