Here at The Speed Blog we thought it might be a fun exercise to come up with a method for comparing and ranking the achievments of  drivers across the various series we cover.

We have set up a scheme that compares top 10 finishes in Formula 1, World Rally,  NASCAR, IRL, ChampCar and NHRA, and aggregates scores based on the number of events competed in. Each month, between March and November, we will present the Driver Rankings for that month, plus the Year to Date rankings.

As March is the first month, then this month’s results also reflect the year-to-date results.

Speed Blog Driver Rankings – Top 10 (March 2007)

1. Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR)
2. Jeff Gordon (NASCAR)
3. Jeff Burton (NASCAR)
4. Matt Kenseth (NASCAR)
5. Tony Stewart (NASCAR)
6. Kyle Busch (NASCAR)
7. Dan Wheldon (IRL)
8. Kimi Raikkonen (F1)
9. Ron Capps (NHRA)
10. Sebastian Loeb (WRC)

The NHRA has confirmed that Eric Medlen, 33, who had emerged as one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries suffered when his race car crashed into a guardwall during a Monday test session at Gainesville Raceway. The talented Funny Car driver never regained consciousness. After being treated at the track, he was transported by ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center where medical staff treated him for four days for a severe closed head injury.

Little more than three years ago, Medlen took over driving responsibilities for John Force Racing in the Funny Car in which Tony Pedregon won the 2003 championship. He had distinguished himself as one of the brightest young stars on the circuit, winning six times in his first three seasons and never finishing outside the top five in driver points. He was the sport’s top Funny Car rookie in 2004, winning in Brainerd, Minn.  He won three races in 2005 and two in 2006.

“Eric Medlen was the son I never had,” said team owner John Force. ”He was the leader of my next generation of drivers. Robert Hight, my daughter Ashley, and I were with the family throughout this very difficult time. This loss is a huge blow not only to the Medlen family, but to drag racing and to John Force Racing. I just want to thank everybody for their support, from Larry Smiley with Racers For Christ to the hospital staff to the whole drag racing community. Our prayers go out to the family.”

Happy Birthday to NASCAR legend Buddy Baker (born 1/25/41),

drag racer Gary Bolger (born 1/25/44),

sports car racer Doc Bundy (born 1/25/46),

and ex-Grand Prix driver and long time Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer (born 1/25/71).

Yesterday it was confirmed, that as many expected, Ashley Force will make the switch to drag racing NHRA Funny Cars in 2007, moving from the Top Fuel class where she has been a rising star since  2004.

Ashely will drive a 8,000 hp Ford Mustang bodied car as the fourth driver in the John Force Racing stable. En-route to her Funny Car licence Ashley has already clocked times in the 4.8 second bracket at around 320 mph.

Happy Birthday to NHRA funny car racer Al Hofmann (born 11/28/47)