Who is the greatest all-round racing driver of all time?

Answer 1

It has to have been Juan Manuel Fangio, he won 5 formula one drivers titles, in an era when a single mistake would be fatal, it took over 50 years of constant improvements in safety before his record could be matched.

"always try to be the best that there is, but never believe you are"

Answer 2

I'm baffled, but not surprised that so many think a NASCAR driver would be the best all-round driver; people are so parochial in their way of thinking. However, I'm sure many answers are based on emotion rather than sound logic.
My definition of an all-round driver would be someone who has been highly competitive or at least has won in a wide variety of motorsports and it's hard to argue against choosing Mario Andretti.
His racing resume is filled with a long list of successes in several different motorsports categories, with the 24 Hours of LeMans being the only major races he hasn't won.
Love him or hate him, feisty old A.J. Foyt also merits consideration although he never raced Formula One cars; as I recalled he once called them `funny little foreign cars.'

Answer 3

This debate has been going on for the history of automobiles but Chris Economaki famed automible and racing writer points out that if one car is better than all of the other cars but all the drivers are the same skill level then the winning driver is really not any better than the other drivers. However, it is very difficult to compare the cars in racing. Specifically, he makes that point in relation to schumacher and ferrari. Based on the fact that almost all of ferrari's second drivers (ie schumi's backups like barrichello, now massa) have been able to bring the ferrari home near the front it is reasonable to think that schumi has been given an outstanding car. Economaki thinks that Jim Clark is one of the best.

The greatest driver would also have to be competitive across the highest levels of various motorsports categories (ie, nascar, F1, indy car, 24 hr le mans, baja 1000). In that regard, Mario Andretti (F1 champ, indy 500, indy car, dirt track) may be the best. Although AJ Foyt may have been as good but he had no F1 experience while Mario had little nascar experience.

Juan Montoya who will be racing nascar next year could become one of the best since he already completely dominated in champ car, is one of only 2 rookie drivers to win the indy 500 (he won on his first try), and was able to compete with but not really beat schumi in F1. Also, Jeff Gordon is one of the few nascar drivers that has expressed an interest in F1 and has been rumored to have been invited to test in F1 and even offered a conditional contract in the past but I think he is still bound by his nascar contracts. If he did leave nascar he may be successful in F1.

Of active nascar drivers I think Tony Stewart is the best of all time because although Dale Sr and Richard Petty had better nascar records, they never won outside of nascar. Tony won in Indy car and on dirt track.

Although Dale Jr is by far the most popualr nascar driver he is has really sucked for the past 2 years and has never done well outside of nascar.

Answer 4

Many large drives yet Vettels blistering %. purely about edges it. Honourable mentions to Buemi, who pre tap with Vettel became 4Th, Sutil for (very nearly) conserving sixth position and Kovalinen who wasn't a humiliation for once. Amazingly severe ending cost thinking climatic circumstances and as others stated, how the hell did Kubica's automobile get to the chequered flag?

Answer 5

Dale Earnhart/Richard Petty.
Mario Andretti/A,J,Foyt
Jackie Stewart

Answer 6

Mario Andretti is the all around best race driver ever with A.J. Foyt a close second. Mario has won a ton of races in every division there is. Noone else even comes close to these two.

Answer 7

Well, obviously most Americans will say "Dale Jr." because they don't KNOW of any really top notch drivers and can only think in terms of NASCAR... not realizing there is some REAL racing being done in the world besides the junkers in NASCAR that race around a toilet bowl and go fast.... turn left... go fast... turn left... go fast... turn left.... etc.

In order to be the greatest all-around racing driver of all time, it would HAVE to be someone who has raced BOTH Formula One and NASCAR. Someone who has won both the F1 world championship AND the Indy. 500. To date, there are only 7 drivers who have done that, so the title of greatest all-around driver of all time would have to be one of them.

If you include Formula 3000 and GT (GP-2 is too new) then the list drops to 3 or 4

Answer 8

Tony Stewart is the best all round driver of all time.....I keep seeing this formula drivers name...What would happen if those guys jumped in a dirt car.LOL

Answer 9

Depends on how many leagues you want to include in there.

For CURRENT era, you can't overlook Tony Stewart. Put him in something with wheels and he's a contender:

International Karting Federation Grand National championship (1983)
World Karting Association National championship (1987)
USAC Rookie of the Year (1991)
USAC championship (1994)
USAC Triple Crown - National Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown titles in the same year (1995)
IndyCar championship (1997)
NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year (1999)
NASCAR Cup Series championship (2002, 2005)
Current leader, 2006 Crown Royal IROC Series

Answer 10

Interesting how the question of all around greatest driver has such replies as Dale Earnhardt, or Richard Petty.

Wish I could think inside the box like a lot of people...