Sports polls seem to be popular at the moment so im giving motorsport one last bash on this site, so who do you think is the greatest of all time?

My vote goes to Villeneuve, amazing driver. 

ColonelClaypool wrote: How can it possibly be anyone other than Michael Schumacher?

Simple, Michael has for his entire carrier followd sennas rule of "if your faster than me im going to push you of the track at 200mph" and they both have tried it!

I started to see F1 racings since 1972 and give up on May 1st, 1994, the very day Senna died. Unfortunately I did not follow Schummy career but he is great indeed!

My vote is for Senna followed by Villeneuve (father) and Prost.

Many British here shall be surprised but I supported Mansell instead of Piquet. I think both were good drivers but Piquet is a person difficult to swallow. I swear that we Brazilians are not that kind of people.

The problems between Mansell and Senna were all restricted to the races nothing personal. It's part of the circus. With Piquet the matter escaped the speedway lines and entered the personal lives of his rivals. It's not part of the circus!

Nikki Lauda, cold as an ice and had the courage to come back after that terrible accident.

Iván

Ivan...Nikki Who?

Tony R wrote: Ivan...Nikki Who?

Ouch, I hope that was a joke Nikki Lauda was 74 and 76 world champ and would have beaten James Hunt in 75 but crashed in Germany and almost burnt to death, he was even given the last rightes in hospital but was racing 6 weeks later.

I chose Villeneuve for one reason Dijon 79, anyone who has seen the video will know what I mean.

sleeper wrote: Tony R wrote: Ivan...Nikki Who?   Ouch, I hope that was a joke Nikki Lauda was 74 and 76 world champ and would have beaten James Hunt in 75 but crashed in Germany and almost burnt to death, he was even given the last rightes in hospital but was racing 6 weeks later. I chose Villeneuve for one reason Dijon 79, anyone who has seen the video will know what I mean.

Little adjustment...

Lauda was champion in 75 and 77 (and also in 84). He lost to Hunt in 1976.

Atkingani wrote: sleeper wrote: Tony R wrote: Ivan...Nikki Who?   Ouch, I hope that was a joke Nikki Lauda was 74 and 76 world champ and would have beaten James Hunt in 75 but crashed in Germany and almost burnt to death, he was even given the last rightes in hospital but was racing 6 weeks later. I chose Villeneuve for one reason Dijon 79, anyone who has seen the video will know what I mean. Little adjustment... Lauda was champion in 75 and 77 (and also in 84). He lost to Hunt in 1976.

Sorry your right, Emerson Fittipaldi was champion in 74, i cant believe I did that

Atkingani wrote: sleeper wrote: Tony R wrote: Ivan...Nikki Who?   Ouch, I hope that was a joke Nikki Lauda was 74 and 76 world champ and would have beaten James Hunt in 75 but crashed in Germany and almost burnt to death, he was even given the last rightes in hospital but was racing 6 weeks later. I chose Villeneuve for one reason Dijon 79, anyone who has seen the video will know what I mean. Little adjustment... Lauda was champion in 75 and 77 (and also in 84). He lost to Hunt in 1976.

I only saw him in 1984 (Lauda was already a living legend with his half burned face), when he won the title by 1/2 point before Alain Prost without having any pole position!!!!

This describes Nikki, he only was fast on the race, what a dramatic season Prost won in the last race (Portugal) and Lauda reached second without trying to pass him at any moment, pure tactic, I was happy because Keke Rosberg was left far behind, that guy was a lunatic.

That season was the first of Ayrton Senna also.

Iván

Although not the fastest driver around, Prost was the smartest (but also the whienest around the last two years)

As being an excellent driver is not being about the fastest , but also the way you set up your car and avoid crashing it or abusing it (causing breakdown) he was clearly the best one around!!

Senna only became excellent after Prost showed him how to tune a car once they became teammates> then he became the better driver and thrived on his "hate "of Prost to beat him. He quickly became aimless once Prost retired.

However Prost did not manage to turn around Ferrari , unlike what Schumacher did (albeit with Todt and Barnhardt), I belive that Schumi is one of the better but he never faced any real competition

My favorite era of F1 racing was in the 70's with Stewart , Clark, Hill and later Lauda and Regazzoni.

shyman wrote: Just check the numbers of championships won. There is a pilot who makes the difference here.

Satatistics means almost nothing in racing. A Hungarian driver from the start of the 20th century has a 100% win record in GP but he only entered 2 races, does that make him better than a Schumacher with a 33% win rate, no.

Villeneuve was fast, had amazing car controll beyond anyone before or since and was a team player. He followed team orders that his team mate Jody Scheckter, who won the Monaco GP, should win the title in 79, the only other year he had a car that could challenge for wins he died in (not that uncompetative cars stoped him wining a couple of races). Thats why I think hes the greatest.

And Ivan, Lauda was the fastes qualifier as well as racer in the mid 70's

And Ivan, Lauda was the fastes qualifier as well as racer in the mid 70's

Yes you're right, but after the accident and specially in 1984, the guy became very careful and started driving with the brain, I remember he even left a race (Believe oit was Monaco, not sure though) because it was heavily raining.

In 1984 it was amazing, I'm almost sure that no other racer has ever won a year without a single pole position and having the best car, because he and Prost drove Mc. Laren and were far ahead of the rest.

But he was always among the most technical drivers ever.

Iván

PS: I know none of us has ever seen Fangio, but no votes?

Fangio is my second choice, I mean 4 straight titles AFTER he broke his neck in 52, amazing.

After his crash lauda did drive a lot more with his brain and pulled out of that years Japanese GP at Fuji when he thought it was raining to much. This cost him the title though when Hunt finished 3rd but to still be leading the title at that point is impressive.

Its the competative edge of man and machine

and why are they an ugly invention

Atkingani wrote: Many British here shall be surprised but I supported Mansell instead of Piquet. I think both were good drivers but Piquet is a person difficult to swallow. I swear that we Brazilians are not that kind of people. The problems between Mansell and Senna were all restricted to the races nothing personal. It's part of the circus. With Piquet the matter escaped the speedway lines and entered the personal lives of his rivals. It's not part of the circus!

I've certainly read that most of these racers were not nice people, or at least not easy to get along with ... certainly I've heard that about Piquet, Senna, Prost and Schumacher ... as  Piquet fan, I'm curious as to what you're referring to, though?

Trotsky wrote: Atkingani wrote: Many British here shall be surprised but I supported Mansell instead of Piquet. I think both were good drivers but Piquet is a person difficult to swallow. I swear that we Brazilians are not that kind of people. The problems between Mansell and Senna were all restricted to the races nothing personal. It's part of the circus. With Piquet the matter escaped the speedway lines and entered the personal lives of his rivals. It's not part of the circus! I've certainly read that most of these racers were not nice people, or at least not easy to get along with ... certainly I've heard that about Piquet, Senna, Prost and Schumacher ... as  Piquet fan, I'm curious as to what you're referring to, though?

Piquet said many awful things spitting his scorn towards his rivals. Some were lost in time but I remember vividly two of them:

1. Piquet said that while he was always escorted by beautiful girls Mansell was always with that 'ugly dragon' (Mansell's wife - and she was not ugly). Mansell answer was very educated saying that his wife helped him when he started racing and he was grateful for it and that he loved her and things like it.

2. Piquet declared publicly that Senna was gay. This happened by the end of the 80s when gay community was suffering a strong repression due to AIDS spreading. Senna never denied or confirmed his gay orientation paying little attention to Piquet's declaration. Senna showed no prejudice and it helped increase his popularity.

As long as my memory goes back these are the examples of Piquet's mind.

Atkingani wrote: Trotsky wrote: Atkingani wrote: Many British here shall be surprised but I supported Mansell instead of Piquet. I think both were good drivers but Piquet is a person difficult to swallow. I swear that we Brazilians are not that kind of people. The problems between Mansell and Senna were all restricted to the races nothing personal. It's part of the circus. With Piquet the matter escaped the speedway lines and entered the personal lives of his rivals. It's not part of the circus! I've certainly read that most of these racers were not nice people, or at least not easy to get along with ... certainly I've heard that about Piquet, Senna, Prost and Schumacher ... as  Piquet fan, I'm curious as to what you're referring to, though? Piquet said many awful things spitting his scorn towards his rivals. Some were lost in time but I remember vividly two of them: 1. Piquet said that while he was always escorted by beautiful girls Mansell was always with that 'ugly dragon' (Mansell's wife - and she was not ugly). Mansell answer was very educated saying that his wife helped him when he started racing and he was grateful for it and that he loved her and things like it. 2. Piquet declared publicly that Senna was gay. This happened by the end of the 80s when gay community was suffering a strong repression due to AIDS spreading. Senna never denied or confirmed his gay orientation paying little attention to Piquet's declaration. Senna showed no prejudice and it helped increase his popularity. As long as my memory goes back these are the examples of Piquet's mind.

Yikes!  Class is not a word that comes to mind ... just goes to show that just cos you like the way someone plays sports (or music for that matter ) ... doesn't mean that you'll necessarily admire the person that they are.

Fantômas wrote: Atkingani wrote: 2. Piquet declared publicly that Senna was gay. This happened by the end of the 80s when gay community was suffering a strong repression due to AIDS spreading. Senna never denied or confirmed his gay orientation paying little attention to Piquet's declaration. Senna showed no prejudice and it helped increase his popularity. This is not true. First, Piquet said that Senna used to act like a gay (viadinho, em bom portugues). Senna said "go ask his ex-girlfriend if I'm gay" (the girl was dating Senna at the time). It was the first time that Piquet didn't know what to do after he got the answer to one of his jokes. Piquet is my idol in the F-1. He's totally crazy...

Thanks, Fantômas, I did not remember Senna's answer but to be precise he did not deny it personally claiming for a third part to confirm or not his "viadice" (gayism) instead.

sleeper wrote: The only act i can recall of Piquets was when he was tacken out of a GP in the 80s by the Chillian Eleseo Salazar and they had a punch up at the side of the track during the race. This was at Hockenheim in Germany and the cars were aproaching at about 230 Mph (370Kph ish). They were both being stupid but its the only thing Salazar's been rememberd for.

They were stupid by half since neither took the helmet out!

sleeper wrote: The only act i can recall of Piquets was when he was tacken out of a GP in the 80s by the Chillian Eleseo Salazar and they had a punch up at the side of the track during the race. This was at Hockenheim in Germany and the cars were aproaching at about 230 Mph (370Kph ish). They were both being stupid but its the only thing Salazar's been rememberd for.

Eliseo Salazar had quite a fruitful career in the States and in sports car races, as far as I remember.

I'm reliabley informed that Fangio was the best

I'd have said Craig Breedlove myself.

Fernando Alonso.

...Well, I have no idea about F1, but I had to say that.

Manunkind wrote: Not exactly F1, but during its 1930s equivalent, there was an Italian driver called Tazio Nuvolari. Those were the days of total German dominance, both in the manufacturers' and drivers' category. Nuvolari was probably the only one who could fight on equal terms with the likes of Bernd Rosemeyer and Rudolf Caracciolla, two amazing drivers in their own right, and he often gave them a run for their money in an underpowered car! He won 64 times in a 30 year career (retired at the age of 60). A true driver's driver and absoultely fearless.

I would have included the likes of Nuvolari, Rosemeyer,Lange and Dick Seamon but that would be a big poll, most people dont know them and I did specify F1. As far as I know Nuvolari was the only one that was capable of draging the Alfa around tracks as fast as a Mercedes or Auto Union, witch were considerably more advanced and faster cars.

BTW Nutter, I'm dont know Breedlove but his name sounds familier, who is he?

sleeper wrote: Manunkind wrote: Not exactly F1, but during its 1930s equivalent, there was an Italian driver called Tazio Nuvolari. Those were the days of total German dominance, both in the manufacturers' and drivers' category. Nuvolari was probably the only one who could fight on equal terms with the likes of Bernd Rosemeyer and Rudolf Caracciolla, two amazing drivers in their own right, and he often gave them a run for their money in an underpowered car! He won 64 times in a 30 year career (retired at the age of 60). A true driver's driver and absoultely fearless.     I would have included the likes of Nuvolari, Rosemeyer,Lange and Dick Seamon but that would be a big poll, most people dont know them and I did specify F1. As far as I know Nuvolari was the only one that was capable of draging the Alfa around tracks as fast as a Mercedes or Auto Union, witch were considerably more advanced and faster cars. BTW Nutter, I'm dont know Breedlove but his name sounds familier, who is he?

Sleeper, He was the holder of Land Speed record for quite a few years, so not a racing driver. He is reputed to have had the fastest 'car' crash of all time when he lost control at over 400mph