Most Influential Drivers in Racing - Shakedown

Gilles Villeneuve the most exciting driver ever to get behind the wheel of a car.
http://myspcars.blogspot.com/

Drop Dale, he added little, Petty and others did far more.

Jack Brabham changed the game, if that's your criteria he has to be in your top 5 considering he also won world championships while designing, building and being the lead mechanic on the car.  Gurney was more than a driver too, no argument from me.  Senna, agree totally, he changed the driver attitude forever, amazingly prepared for every race, physically and mentally, totally professional all of the time. Dale Earnhart is no different to Peter Brock, both great drivers and both still have dedicated fans long after their deaths but I don't think they changed the game.  If you want a driver who's style spoke to the fans you have to include Colin McRae.  He has more of a claim than Earnhart or Brock, he bought fans to the sport but also crossed over into video games, we went from dreaming about driving like the legends to doing it in our lounge rooms and his style was the key to its success.  How many drivers in the next 10 years will count on him or the game he put his name to as an influence at the beginning of their motorsport career.  And "Grand Prix" the movie had a similar influence on that generation so I'd have someone from there too but who?? I don't know.

From long ago, check out the History of Jack Brabham, Jack Brabham became the first man to win a Formula One world championship race in a car of his own construction. Only his two former team mates, Bruce McLaren and Dan Gurney, have since matched this achievement. It was the first in a run of four straight wins for the Australian veteran. Brabham in a Brabham-Repco won the championship again and became the only driver to win the Formula One World Championship in a car that carried his own name.

He showed time and again that racing even at an elite level, doesn't necessarily require the big bank account.

Thank god you included Gurney, yet no mention of him starting the champagne spraying tradition? 
But no Gilles Villeneuve, the winner of one of the best f1 battles of all time in france in 79? 
And as much as I hate to say it, if you're speaking simply of f1 drivers who've had an impact, uncle bernie would have to be number 1, since he did race (although as briefly as the cast of the jersey shore making their parents proud); and he no runs all of formula 1 with tyrannical power. I can't remember the last rule-change that he forced through that improved the racing, plus he's a gossipy little girl, always putting his two cents in on every team and every situation. As far as (former) drivers go he has changed the sport more than any other, and he continues to change it every day it feels like

http://myspcars.blogspot.com

Late Colin McRae - for just being ( too ) adventurous with his driving most of the time and putting the WRC with it's past and present heroes ( too many to mention ) known into a lot of homes worldwide.

To all, great adds!  Thanks for taking this topic and running with it so passionately.

Additional to my last comment, I can fully agree that Senna changed the game, and Penske moved development forward for the #1 and #2 spot.  Didn't know about Gurney but can agree that he deserves a spot.  Dale Sr I respect immensely but I would bump down to within the top ten but put Mouton in his spot at #4 as a stronger influence on the world stage especially in WRC.  Garner, I would replace with Newman directly as I always felt his presence in the spot light to be more influential, though I am fully a McQueen fan.  Schumy is a good driver but I don't think he helped develop racing as a whole, but more assisted in making Ferrari into Bernies baby and consequently, F1 it's bitch.

Michelle Mouton....  She was the winningest female with Fabrizia Ponz as her codriver in the all women factory backed WRC team back before Group B rally was disbanded.  She helped bring Audi to the forefront along with Quattro, the current standard for the winning design formula in WRC.  Now she manages the annual race that pits racers from all walks against one another in the Race of Champions, not to be confused with IROC.  This is a format that proves who really is the best of the best.  She holds many records, most of which are firsts for being Female, but setting records all the same.

Don't put Vettel on DTM list. I know he has had a few forgettable races as of recent. But he has loads of talent, and he has realised his mistakes. He will be in much better form for Monza.

For me, the top 3 drivers are Alain Frost,  Mika Hakkinen. and Michael Schumacher.

Thank god you included Gurney, yet no mention of him starting the champagne spraying tradition? 
But no Gilles Villeneuve, the winner of one of the best f1 battles of all time in france in 79? 
And as much as I hate to say it, if you're speaking simply of f1 drivers who've had an impact, uncle bernie would have to be number 1, since he did race (although as briefly as the cast of the jersey shore making their parents proud); and he no runs all of formula 1 with tyrannical power. I can't remember the last rule-change that he forced through that improved the racing, plus he's a gossipy little girl, always putting his two cents in on every team and every situation. As far as (former) drivers go he has changed the sport more than any other, and he continues to change it every day it feels like

Ok leo here is some people u either forgot or should b on ur list.
Collin Mcrey- R.I.P
Sebastian Loeb- simply amazing control
Michael Schmacer-duh we all know why(ross brawn didnt hurt tho)
John Force_ yes i know only going straight but 14 time champ cant knock that
Gilles Villeneuve- pure excitment 
  so what do u think about those % and senna is by far number 1 he is in a league of his own!!!

Gilles Villeneuve the most exciting driver ever to get behind the wheel of a car.

re: Penske on the list, great choice. Mark Donohue and Penke changed the way car set-up and testing was done . Read Mark Donohues' excellent book called "The Unfair Advantage". It's a really good read. Leo, I know you've read it.

Jackie Stewart should be on the list. He made safety an important issue in racing and because of him countless lives have been saved. I have no idea how you could not include him.

But I agree, Ayrton Senna is number 1.

I'll add Jacky Ickx & Jackie Stewart to my list.

Leo, you can add Sebastian Vettel to your DTM list.

I agree. Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen (I felt was an artist behind the wheel showing up Schumi many times), Ayrton Senna too I saw my first F1 race and never went back to Indy after that. but Schumi and Mika were Awesome drivers amazing racers and kept their egos in check. I learned a lot from watching and listening to them. Jacques Villenuves... Joking.

In my opinion Michael Schumacher need to be on this list as one of the most influential drivers in F1, In my generation of growing up, he was the one everyone looked up to, in 1990, and early 2000... I no the unretirement is ruining image, but thats like saying Michael Jordan wasnt one of the greatest cause he came back, some people just cant live without it, and gotta give it one last shot.... My favorite championship race was the year before schumi retired, and it was him in his ferrari against alonso in his renault, remember the final race in brazil were he needed alonso not to finish in the points to win the championship, and he ended up gettin a flat, the way he drove after that flat, was just spectacular, he just didnt understand giving up....