16 replies to this topic

[Graham Clayton]

Everyone knows that Sir Stirling Moss finished 2nd in 4 consecutive years in the F1 World Championship (1955-1958), but are there many other examples of drivers who finished 2nd and not 1st in either a championship point score or major race.

Another example is Harry Hartz, who finished 2nd in the Indianapolis 500 3 times (1922, 1923 and 1926) without winning. He is the only driver to finish 2nd three times without winning.

What other notable examples of bridesmaids have there been in the history of motor racing?

[RStock]

Jackie Ickx being runner up in the championship 1969 and '70. Rubens in '02 and '04

Edited by REDARMYSOJA, 04 July 2011 - 00:51.

[Tim Murray]

In 1950 Luigi Fagioli finished second in four of the seven World Drivers' Championship races without winning one.

Slightly OT, but Jean Alesi had 16 second places in World Championship GPs to go with his solitary win.

[Vitesse2]

Léonce Girardot was known as "the eternal second". I thought you might have mentioned that, Tim:

http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=1564435

[brucemoxon]

Chris Amon - not so much for Championships, but for races.



Bruce Moxon

[Tim Murray]

I thought you might have mentioned that, Tim:

Ah yes, meant to check his results first, then - er - forgot.

[D-Type]

Stirling Moss at Le Mans - 2nd in 1953 and 1956 but he never made the top spot.

[Vitesse2]

Between 1933 and 1939, Manfred von Brauchitsch started in 49 Formula races. He failed to finish in 22 of those and was disqualified from first place in another after an illegal push start. Of the remaining 26, although he won three, he finished second ten times and third seven times.

[Tim Murray]

My nomination for Le Mans 'bridesmaid' is Henri Stoffel - three 2nds, two 3rds and a 6th, but never a win.

[ensign14]

My nomination for Le Mans 'bridesmaid' is Henri Stoffel - three 2nds, two 3rds and a 6th, but never a win.

Bob Wollek?

Another couple of bridesmaids in terms of Grands Prix are Baconin Borzacchini and Meo Costatini, although both took Grande Epreuves (Mille Miglia/Targa Florio) which were at least the equal of a GP win. Panther Racing have had four consecutive Indy 500 runners-upses, this year's being the most galling, beaten on the final corner with their revolutionary three wheel model by the chap they'd fired pre-season.

I believe Sterling Marlin had 9 second places before getting his first NASCAR win (and that the biggest). GC Spencer and Soapy Castles had about six each without a win, whereas Castles was a privateer Spencer came close a few times before retirements scuppered him. James Hylton had lots of championship runner-up finishes but I don't think any of them were particularly close.

[scheivlak]

Nick Heidfeld has finished 13 times on the podium in F1 (8x2nd, 5x3rd) and still no win.

He may feel some consolidation from the fact that Jenson Button finished 13 times on the podium (4x2nd, 9x3rd) before his first win in Hungary 2006.

[Tim Murray]

Bob Wollek?

Yes indeed - five Le Mans 2nds and two 3rds.

[Bauble]

I won the 'Father's Race' at my daughter's school sports on one occasion, and finished second once, where the winner was not a 'dad' but an elder brother, so I think I do not qualify as a 'bridesmaid' myself.

I mention this just to avoid my name coming up in any future discussions on this thread.

Edited by Bauble, 04 July 2011 - 13:04.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Bauble
.....I mention this just to avoid my name coming up in any future discussions on this thread.

Maybe I am doing you a disservice?

I rather thought you mentioned simply so your name would come up on the thread...

Kevin Bartlett was twice the Australian Gold Star Champion, the top point-scorer in our premier open-wheel category.

But the Australian Grand Prix eluded him. He contested it each year from 1966 to 1978, resulting in six DNFs, an eleventh, a ninth, an eighth, a sixth, two fifths and a second place.

[RStock]

I mention this just to avoid my name coming up in any future discussions on this thread.

Maybe I am doing you a disservice?

I rather thought you mentioned simply so your name would come up on the thread...

Whoring himself on TNF. He has no shame.

[Ray Bell]

Well, you've got to admit...

It worked!

[ensign14]

Another example is Harry Hartz, who finished 2nd in the Indianapolis 500 3 times (1922, 1923 and 1926) without winning. He is the only driver to finish 2nd three times without winning.

Quick point about Harry Hartz; he won the 500 as a car owner (Billy Arnold).

Mark Martin has come close to the NASCAR title a number of times but has never quite made it. Not counting 1990 of course when NASCAR stole it from him to give to St Dale.