Mark Vaughn: Who's the best?

My executive editor, the talented Wes Raynal, asked me to come up with a list of the 10 best drivers ever. It's for an AutoWeek 50th-anniversary story he's putting together back in Detroit. I think he's asking everyone on staff, so you'll have quite a lot of opinions coming on this topic.

After I sent my list, as editors sometimes do, he said it was supposed to include only drivers from the last 50 years, so I had to modify it a bit.

I submit to you the following, which was my original list of the "best ever." I added honorable mentions at the bottom. It's my list, and I used my own criteria, which often included character and accomplishments outside the cockpit as much as winning races. Your list will certainly be different.

You may begin arguing at any time now.

1. Juan Manuel Fangio: He has to be the best ever, with five world titles, yet remained gracious to the end.

2. Tazio Nuvolari: The great Italian motorcycle, Le Mans and Grand Prix hero from the days when race cars were deadly tin cans with crazily powerful...

Last Update on : January 31, 2008   

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