AOWR Driver of the Decade

[MDS]

ESPN has nominated Sebastien Bourdias Champ Car/IRL driver of the decade,

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ory?id=4776055

and made the case for Sam Hornish

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ory?id=4778665

The problem is with split both Sebastien and Sam faced some pretty weak competition, so I probably give the nod to Sebastien at least in part because his out of series accomplishments, finishing second twice in the 24 hr of Lemans and winning Sebring are more impressive, and Sam has been average in NASCAR.

I think you have to look at Scott Dixon. He's the only one who raced in AOWR consistently during that time, is the IRL win leader, competed in CART before the competition got diluted. He won the Indy Lights championship, and has been in one of the top two points spots for the last three years, two of which against the stiffest competition since 2001

[anthonyvop]

It is an ESPN pole so it will go to a NASCAR driver, Probably Jimmie Johnson. Anybody who truly follows motorsports knows that Sebastien Loeb is the only logical choice.

[harvick#1]

they are talking about Open Wheel drivers

I believe I'd have to go with Dixon, Franchitti, or Castroneves

although with the split, it is too hard to judge as both series had good drivers but were different cars they raced

but in all reality

driver of the decade goes to Danica :

[NickFalzone]

IMO it's gotta be Seabass, Dario, Dixon, or Castroneves.

[TURN3]

I can honestly say I've never had as much hate towards a driver as I did Bourdais. That being said, it was because he was so outright dominant. Both series were watered down, yes but if you take the top 2 teams from each series, none of them dominated like he did. 4 championships and in 5 years approached somewhere around the top 5 in career wins. On the IRL side, Dixon, Franchitti, etc...they pretty much all had their days. I don't think you can include Helio in the race. He's in a 2nd tier with people like Tracy...no championships for Helio but several race wins and 3 (cough 2) 500's. Gotta go to Bourdais if we are talking American Open Wheel Racing...yuk.

[anthonyvop]

they are talking about Open Wheel drivers

Nope it is for "Driver of the Decade"

Who is ESPN.com's Driver of the Decade? Stay tuned. Nine drivers. One winner. The big reveal is coming Monday, Jan. 11.

So far they have listed:
# Sebastien Bourdais
# Sam Hornish Jr.
# Jimmie Johnson
# Tom Kristensen
# Sebastien Loeb
# Monday: Valentino Rossi
# Coming Tuesday: Bernd Schneider

[anthonyvop]

Top 5 for sure. Only? Mmm, maybe.

He is a six-time world champion and holds the record for most wins in the series and most - and tied second most - consecutive wins in a rally season with 6 & 5 (multiple times) respectively.

125 starts
54 wins
82 podiums

Who is even in the same league?

[Mark in Oshawa]

IMO it's gotta be Seabass, Dario, Dixon, or Castroneves.

Seabass over Dario. He made the CCWS/CART competition look weak, but he was just that good. You didn't see him make many mistakes and he adapted to every track he went to immediately. Dario, had he not had the NASCAR daillance would be a close second but still likely is with Helio and Dixon below the Frenchman...

[Mark in Oshawa]

Driver of the Decade? Johnson, Schuey or Loeb....

[harvick#1]

Nope it is for "Driver of the Decade"

yes, but MDS asked us who is the American Open Wheel Driver of the decade.


if its actual driver, I'll go with Sebastien Loeb

although Tom Kristensen won the 24 hours of Lemans 7 out of 10 years which which will most likely be never done again. and if not for a loose wheel in 07, or mechanical problems in 06, he would've won it 9 out of 10 years.

Michael Schumacher would be second on my vote

Rossi would be 3rd