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COLIN CHAPMAN was the
acknowledged master among F1 constructors at getting the
most number victories out of the least amount of aluminum,
steel, plastic and carbon-fibre. If his cars did not always
inspire his drivers with confidence, they did know that when
he got it right they could be unbeatable. As a result he
ranks second only to Ferrari in the pantheon of great race
car builders.
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 JIM
CLARK and the Lotus of Colin Chapman
were an unbeatable pair. In fact if he didn't breakdown you would
most likely find him in the winners circle. He took Indianapolis
by storm and won on his third attempt. Considered the most naturally
talented driver of all time his career was cut short when he was
killed in a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim.
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 JUAN-MANUEL
FANGIO "The Master" won more World Championships than
any man. He was as close to perfection as any mortal could
be. Once passing rivals Collins and Hawthorne by
"straightening out" a series of curves at full speed.
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 ENZO
FERRARI the founder of the company that bears his
name died in 1988 at the age of 90 but his legend lives on.
Other marquees have their fans yet only one team has what
could be called disciples. A team that has not won a World
Championship for eighteen years yet exerts a mystical hold
on the hearts of a nation. This is a nation without
boundaries, their citizens are known as the Tifosi, their
flag the Prancing Horse.
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 GRAHAM
HILL the father of World Champion Damon was for many
people the perfect example how a race driver should act and
look. The only man to win Indianapolis, Le Mans and the F1
World Championship. The 5-Time winner of Monte Carlo drove
during what many consider the golden years of F1 against
such legends as Clark, Brabham, Surtees, and Gurney.
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 STIRLING
MOSS will always be known as the greatest driver
never to have won the World Championship. But if the measure
of a man is more than just honors but the respect in which
he was held by his peers then he was a champion many times
over. I will never forget my introduction to this man
through his exploits during the 1955 Mille Miglia with Denis
Jenkinson.
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 RONNIE
PETERSON or SuperSwede as he was called was a
hopeless development driver. That being said his unworldly
car control was a sight to behold. The image of Peterson
coming through Woodcote absolutely on the limit with tires
squealing and using just enough opposite lock and throttle
to control his car has been described countless times. The
people who paid witness knew that they were seeing something
magical.
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 ALAIN
PROST "The Professor" won 4 World Championships but
because he could be so calculating people tended to overlook
his outright speed. When partnered with Niki Lauda his lap
times left the Austrian in his exhaust. Prost won more races
than any other driver yet he was criticized for quitting a
race because he thought the conditions were too
dangerous.
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 MICHAEL
SCHUMACHER "The German" in his short time in Formula
One already has made a legend for himself. His 2 World
Championships, wins with inferior equipment and his ability
to destroy teammates with his raw speed force his inclusion
onto this list with the majority of his career still in
front of him.
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 AYRTON
SENNA the greatest driver I ever saw was according to
Stirling Moss "...the only driver who could be spoken of in
the same breath as Fangio and
Clark". The mere sight of his yellow
helmet in a drivers mirror would raise any drivers pulse.
His battles against Prost were
always exciting and often controversial neither side giving
way to the other.
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 JACKIE
STEWART was the first modern driver who spoke of the
need for greater safety. Until he arrived on the scene race
car drivers were not well paid. Beyond this he was fast,
especially at the start of the race where he would roar off
into the distance and demoralize all of his opposition.
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 GILLES
VILLENEUVE spent the majority of his stint in Formula
1 with Ferrari. He was without question one of the most popular drivers ever to work for them.
His trademark was speed. He was absolutely uncompromising
when it came to driving fast. Wet or dry, good car or bad,
tough track or easy, for Villeneuve there was no excuse for
not going as fast as (and sometimes faster than)
possible.
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