Mt Rushmore of American race car drivers

[slothead]

I was just watching a Mecum Auto Auction when the announcers discussed what 4 drivers they'd put on a Mt Rushmore of American race car drivers.

Who would you choose? Please list them in order of certainty, by whatever criteria you choose.

[chrisguyw]

Gurney, Andretti, Foyt, and, in trying hard to include anybody from Nascar,.....Petty

Cheers
Chris Walker

[Dodgefarmer]

Richard Petty for the Nascar entry.

[Silberpfeil]

James Garner...

[macmoose]

James Garner...

Now THAT'S funny!

[chappyman66]

Briggs Cunningham. Major role is establishing racing in the US, builder of several successful cars (LeMans notwithstanding) and importer of successful racers.

Andretti, he won in everything he raced except CanAm and managed "Best of The Rest" with the 712.

Gurney, no other US builder/driver won a GP in a car of their own design and continued through Group C.

Hall, for the initial development of aero in American racing.

And yes, all drivers.
And yes....Foyt deserves mention as well for his versatility.

[macmoose]

Gurney, Earnhardt Sr., Mario Andretti, Peter Gregg.

[stumbley]

Carroll Shelby? A great driver and constructor. Plus a wonderful self-promoter. And good chili.

[docdoom]

Roger Penske hate him or love him but he has done a ton for the sport

[Pappy]

A.J. Foyt for his Indy win in 1961, A.J. Foyt for his Indy win in 1964, A.J. Foyt for his Indy win in 1967 and A.J. Foyt for his Indy win in 1977.

[BIG E]

Uh, yeah... what he said! -- Ernie :>)

[ourwayband]

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[chrisguyw]

I was unaware that Ken Miles was American.....!!!

[slothead]

Ken Miles is definitely an American hero in my opinion, even if he was British by birth. We claim Superman and he wasn't born here either. I admire what he accomplished racing in America, and for American teams, but don't think he was as accomplished as our other Mt Rushmore nominees.

Ken Miles fought with the British army in WWII and moved to America when he was 34. He died in August of 1966, age 47, while testing the Ford J car at Riverside. He's buried in Hollywood, CA.

[ourwayband]

That is kinda what I thought too.....
An American Hero to me....

[Lindy]

Has everyone forgotten Phil Hill?

On the other hand, if you wanted to pick one from each of the top American racing series:
Indy - Dan Gurney
Can Am - Dan Gurney
Trans Am - Dan Gurney
NASCAR - Dan Gurney

[Courtney s]

Mark Donahue , AJ (Super Tex) Petty , Steve Kinser, Don Garlits (Big Daddy) Gurney ......I cant do just 4.

[RichD]

I would add Phil Hill to the list.

[Mickey thumbs]

Gurney, Andretti, Foyt and Hill as drivers. Gurney, Hall, Penske and Cunningham as driver/ builder/ team owner with honorable mentions to Foyt and Petty.