Our final All-Time One-Time Starter Grid brings us to the pinnacle of motorsports.
While IndyCar and NASCAR are full of cameo appearances, Formula One has fewer one-time participants. Only 161 drivers have started only one Formula One race.
There are some notable names, some Le Mans winners, some Formula 5000 champions, a few men who were known for their exploits on two wheels and some who were known for what they did on ovals.
This grid might not have the same level of standout talent that we saw over the previous two days, but this group includes promising drivers who never got a full shot or whose opportunities came elsewhere. One thing that has been taken more into consideration with this version than with IndyCar and NASCAR is the race result itself in these lone Formula One starts.
We will look at two-dozen drivers who are a footnote in the Formula One history book, but whose résumés are much longer than that.
Row 12
24. Timmy Mayer
Claim to Fame: 1962 SCCA Formula Junior National Champion, fourth in the 1964 Tasman Series champion.
Only Start: October 7, 1962, United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen
Result: Retirement
What happened: Mayer and his brother Teddy teamed up with Peter Revson ahead of the 1962 season in SCCA Formula Junior. After Mayer won that champion, he and his brother purchased a Cooper T53 to run at the United States Grand Prix. He qualified 12th, the fastest privateer and only 1.6 seconds off of factory Cooper driver Tony Maggs in the newer Cooper T60. Mayer also qualified directly ahead of Roger Penske, who was making his second Formula One start. An ignition failure ended Mayer's race after 31 laps.
Odds of a second start: Mayer lost his life in practice ahead of the 1964 Tasman Series season finale in Longford, Tasmania. Mayer was believed to be a future star. Bruce McLaren's eulogy to his fallen teammate remains a remarkable memorial to his friend, but also a snapshot of why race car drivers compete and risk it all.
"The news that he had died instantly was a terrible shock to all of us, but who is to say that he had not seen more, done more and learned more in his few years than many people do in a lifetime? To do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one's ability, for I feel that life is measured in achievement, not in years alone."
23. Joie Chitwood
Claim to Fame: One of the earliest daredevil performers of the 20th century, Chitwood also competed in dirt car racing, starting out in sprint cars before graduating to the level of IndyCars. He made seven Indianapolis 500 starts, finishing fifth on three occasions.
Only Start: May 30, 1950, Indianapolis 500
Result: 5th
What happened: Chitwood qualified ninth and he spent much of the race in the top ten. He drove the first 84 laps before stepping out of the car for Tony Bettenhausen, who had fallen out of the race on lap 31. Bettenhausen drove the final 54 laps and was fifth when the red flag came out for rain. The race did not restart and Chitwood and Bettenhausen split the two points. Bettenhausen would run every Indianapolis 500 that counted toward the world championship, scoring points in another three, including a runner-up finish in 1955. But this was Chitwood's only Formula One start, and his final Indianapolis 500 start, and he got a point for it. He is one of six drivers to have only one start and finished in the points.
Odds of a second start: Chitwood passed away on January 3, 1988, aged 75.
Row 11
22. Neville Lederle
Claim to Fame: South African driver who competed primarily on the continent of Africa. 1963 South African Drivers' champion.
Only Start: December 29, 1962, South African Grand Prix at East London
Result: 6th
What happened: As was common back in the 1960s, the South African Grand Prix saw an influx of drivers from the host nation and neighboring Rhodesia fill the grid. Of the 17 drivers that qualified for the 1962 South African Grand Prix, seven were from one of the two African nations and the only one that was full-time was Tony Maggs. Lederle led the local crowd in qualifying, ending up tenth in his Lotus-Climax. Lederle did not match the speed of the leaders. He suffered a cracked cylinder during the race, but he was able to manage and get to the finish while the likes of Jim Clark and John Surtees both retired with mechanical failures. Lederle was four laps down but he finished sixth, scoring a point.
Odds of a second start: Lederle passed away two years ago at the age of 90 in South Africa.
21. Eric Thompson
Claim to Fame: Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, including a third overall finish in 1951. Also had a class victory in the Spa 24 Hours.
Only Start: July 19, 1952, British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Result: 5th
What happened: Thompson was one of four factory Connaught drivers entered at Silverstone and Thompson qualified ninth on the grid, third of the Connaught contingent. Ferrari had taken the top three spots on the grid and Alberto Ascari and Piero Taruffi ran away with this one, but Thompson kept the car running and ended up fifth, the final car in the points after Nino Farina's Ferrari had to stop to change spark plugs and Robert Manzon burned a clutch early in the race.
Odds of a second start: Thompson retired from racing after 1955. He worked as an insurance broker for Lloyd's of London until the 1980s when he resigned and spent his later life operating a bookshop and selling rare books on the history of motorsports. He passed away on August 22, 2015, aged 95.
Row 10
20. Marco Apicella
Claim to Fame: 1994 Japanese Formula 3000 champion, International Formula 3000 veteran with 52 starts, no victories but seven runner-up finishes and ten total podium finishes.
Only Start: September 12, 1993, Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Result: Retirement
What happened: Commonly mistaken as the shortest Formula One career, Apicella got a tryout with Jordan for his home race at Monza, stepping in for Thierry Boutsen, who retired after his home Belgian Grand Prix. Apicella was 23rd in qualifying, but about a half-second off teammate Rubens Barrichello. Heading into the first corner, two separate accidents occurred. Derek Warwick and Aguri Suzuki came together and behind that, J.J. Lehto collected both Jordan drivers, ending Apicella's race before completing two turns. Fellow Italian Emanuele Naspetti replaced Apicella at Portugal and Apicella never got another crack at Formula One after only racing for a few hundred meters. But this is not the shortest Formula One career. Ernst Loof made it all off six feet in the 1953 German Grand Prix after a fuel pump failure ended his race.
Odds of a second start: Most of Apicella's career occurred after his one and only Formula One start. He competed primarily in sports car racing in the 2000s and made five 24 Hours of Le Mans starts. In his final two Le Mans appearances both cars retired after completing only one lap. Formula One is long behind him.
19. John Cannon
Claim to Fame: Can-Am and Formula 5000 competitor. Famously won the 1968 Can-Am race at Laguna Seca in the wet in a year-old McLaren over the likes of Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren. He was the 1970 SCCA Formula 5000 champion.
Only Start: October 3, 1971, United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen
Result: 14th
What happened: The 1971 United States Grand Prix had a cloud of politics hanging over the proceedings as USAC had scheduled its race in Trenton on the same day, preventing the likes of Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue and others from competing at Watkins Glen. Andretti and Donohue each qualified for the USGP, hoping rain would delay Trenton, but clear weather prevailed on Sunday.
Politics aside, Cannon had gotten the opportunity to drive for BRM alongside Jo Siffert, Howden Ganley and Helmut Marko. Cannon qualified 24th out of a 29-car field and he brought the car home three laps down, but up ten positions from his starting position.
Odds of a second start: Cannon competed into Formula 5000 through the 1970s. He flew experimental aircraft in his years after racing. He died from injuries suffered in a testing accident on October 18, 1999. He was 66 years old.
Row 9
18. Warwick Brown
Claim to Fame: 1975 Tasman Series champion, 1977-78 Rothmans International Series champion. Second in the 1978 Can-Am Championship.
Only Start: October 10, 1976, United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen
Result: 14th
What happened: After all Brown's Formula 5000 success, he got the opportunity to run at Watkins Glen with Wolf-Williams Racing, the one-year marriage of Walter Wolf Racing and Frank Williams Racing Cars. The team struggled all season with the Wolf-Williams FW05, which was just a re-badged Hesketh 308C. Brown did qualify ahead of teammate Arturo Merzario and Brown was the final classified car, albeit it five laps down.
Odds of a second start: Brown is 71 years old, but he has not competed for the better part of the last 40 years.
17. George Amick
Claim to Fame: Amick was in the top ten of the USAC National Championship in his first four seasons, with his best championship finish being second in 1958. He won three races in his career.
Only Start: May 30, 1958, Indianapolis 500
Result: 2nd
What happened: Amick had finished ninth, fourth and third in the USAC National Championship in his first three years of competition, but he did not make the Indianapolis 500 in any of those years. Heading into the 1958 season, Amick had three career victories. He only qualified 25th at Indianapolis. The race started with a nine-car accident on the opening lap, which claimed the life of Pat O'Connor and took out four of the top five starters. Amick quickly found himself at the front of the field, leading on lap 27 and trading the top spot with Jimmy Bryan and Tony Bettenhausen throughout the first 100 miles. Amick soon slipped a few positions and Bryan would battle Johnny Boyd until Boyd had long pit stops take him out of contention for victory. Bryan led the final 75 laps with Amick finishing 27.63 seconds back in second.
Odds of a second start: Amick lost his life in an accident on the final lap of the only IndyCar race held at Daytona International Speedway on April 4, 1959. He was 34 years old.
Row 8
16. Graham McRae
Claim to Fame: Three-time Tasman Series champion, 1972 SCCA Formula 5000 champion, 16th-place finisher in the 1973 Indianapolis 500 and that result earned him Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors.
Only Start: July 14, 1973, British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Result: Retirement
What happened: McRae had shown great skill in Formula 5000 and he was given the opportunity to drive for Frank Williams at Silverstone. He had a good initial start, but a throttle issue took him out before even completing a lap.
Odds of a second start: McRae will turn 81 years old on March 4, but similar to Warwick Brown, he has spent most of the second half of his life not behind the wheel of a race car. McRae may have made his first Formula One start a year earlier. He was offered to substitute for Jackie Stewart at the 1972 Belgian Grand Prix as Stewart was suffering from an ulcer, but McRae turned down Tyrrell's offer due to his busy Formula 5000 schedule.
15. Jo Schlesser
Claim to Fame: Seven-time 24 Hours of Le Mans starter, including two starts in the Ford GT40 program. He had finishes of ninth and 13th in 1964 in his two NASCAR Cup Series starts, the latter being in the Daytona 500.
Only Start: July 7, 1968, French Grand Prix at Rouen
Result: Retirement
What happened: This is a bit of a technicality, because Schlesser competed in two races prior, but both of those were the German Grand Prix in Formula Two machinery when those races happened simultaneously. The 1968 French Grand Prix is Schlesser's only start in a Formula One car and the record books indicate he has only one career start.
Honda had developed the RA302, a car with an air-cooled engine and magnesium body. John Surtees had refused to drive the car due to safety concerns and Schlesser was given the ride. The car qualified 17th out of 18 entrants. On the third lap of the race, with rain starting to fall, Schlesser spun into an embankment on the exit of Six Frères corner. The car burst into flames and Schlesser was unable to escape, losing his life at the age of 40. Surtees went on to finish second behind first-time winner Jacky Ickx. Honda attempted to run the RA302 again at Monza, but Surtees again refused. Honda withdrew from Formula One after the season.
Odds of a second start: See above.
Row 7
14. Masahiro Hasemi
Claim to Fame: 1980 Japanese Top Formula Champion. Three-time Japanese Touring Car Champion. 1992 24 Hours of Daytona winner.
Only Start: October 24, 1976, Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji
Result: 11th
What happened: In the frantic championship decider between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, the first Japanese Grand Prix to count toward the world championship featured four local drivers and Hasemi led the way, qualifying tenth in his Kojima-Ford, only 1.11 seconds off Mario Andretti on pole position and ahead of Jacques Laffitte, John Mass, Patrick Depailler and Tom Pryce. In the wet conditions, Hasemi did not have the same pace and ended up seven laps down, but the final car running. He was initially credited with the fastest lap in the race, but a few days after the event, the circuit found that Laffite had set fastest lap on lap 70. Hasemi remains the last Japanese driver to have won the Japanese Grand Prix, having won the race in 1975.
Odds of a second start: Hasemi competed until 2001 in Super GT. He is 75 years old. Thirty years ago, I might have given him a small percentage that he could make a one-off return for a back-marker team in the Japanese Grand Prix, but not today.
13. Nello Pagani
Claim to Fame: 1949 125cc world champion and 1949 500cc vice-champion. Winner of the Pau Grand Prix in 1947 and 1948, the first driver to win the Pau Grand Prix twin and the first to win it in consecutive years.
Only Start: June 4, 1950, Swiss Grand Prix at Bremgarten
Result: 7th
What happened: Pagani might not have run the 1950 Swiss Grand Prix had it not been for José Froilán González suffering an injury ahead of the race. Pagani started the weekend qualifying 24.7 seconds off pole-sitter Juan Manuel Fangio, but he completed 39 of 42 laps and was seventh on the road, ahead of regulars Harry Schell and Louis Chiron. Not to mention, he did finish ahead of Fangio, who retired due to an engine failure on lap 32.
Odds of a second start: Pagani's final grand prix on two wheels was in 1955. He lived until the age of 92, passing away on October 19, 2003.
Row 6
12. Kunimitsu Takahashi
Claim to Fame: Four-time grand prix motorcycle race winner. Four-time All-Japan Sports Prototype Champion. 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 class winner.
Only Start: October 23, 1977, Japanese Grand Prix.
Result: 9th
What happened: It had been 13 years since Takahasi's last grand prix motorcycle race, but after finishing second in the 1977 Japanese Top Formula Championship, he drove a three-year old Tyrrell 007 at Fuji. He started 22nd out of 23 cars, but he finished only two laps down in ninth, the top Japanese driver in the field and ahead of Jody Scheckter, who had won three races that season, including the race prior in Canada.
Odds of a second start: Similar to Hasemi, I would have held some hope of Takahashi getting a crack at a Japanese Grand Prix 30 years ago. He competed in Super GT until 1999. But now, he will remain focused on his championship-winning Team Kunimitsu in Super GT.
11. Roland Ratzenberger
Claim to Fame: Second in the 1985 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch behind Johnny Herbert. Japanese Formula 3000 race winner. 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans C2 class winner.
Only Start: April 17, 1994, Pacific Grand Prix at TI Circuit
Result: 11th
What happened: Ratzenberger signed a five-year deal with Simtek ahead of the 1994 season. He failed to qualify for 1994 season opener at Interlagos, missing out on the 26th grid spot by 1.5 seconds to his teammate David Brabham. For the Pacific Grand Prix, Ratzenberger was four-tenths to the good over Bertrand Gachot, who ironically drove for Pacific Grand Prix. Brabham retired after two laps, but Ratzenberger saw the checkered flag, finishing 11th, five laps down.
Odds of a second start: Ratzenberger lost his life on April 30, 1994 in a qualifying accident ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix. His wing broke off entering the Villeneuve corner after previously having gone off course. It was only his third grand prix weekend.
Row 5
10. Dieter Quester
Claim to Fame: 1970 Macau Grand Prix winner. Four-time European Touring Car champion. Third in the 1971 European Formula Two Championship behind Ronnie Peterson and Carlos Reutemann. 1973 24 Hours of Le Mans T 5.0 class winner. Two-time Dubai 24 Hour winner.
Only Start: August 18, 1974, Austrian Grand Prix at the Österreichring
Result: 9th
What happened: Surtees was not having a great 1974 season and Quester was added as third Surtees entry for his home race. Quester made the field in 25th, the final qualifier, while teammates Derek Bell and Jean-Pierre Jabouille each failed to qualify. Prior to Austria, the only top ten finish for Surtees was when Carlos Pace was fourth in Brazil. The Surtees was not going to contend for points, but Quester remained on the track while the likes of Ronnie Peterson, Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi and Jody Scheckter all retired. Quester was three laps down, but he finished ninth.
Odds of a second start: Quester last competed in the 2018 HSR Classic Daytona in November 2018 at the age of 79. He turns 82 on May 30 this year. I think his time has passed.
9. Leo Kinnunen
Claim to Fame: 1970 24 Hours of Daytona winner with Pedro Rodríguez and Brian Redman. Three-time Interserie champion. Two-time Norisring Trophy winner. Last driver to compete with an open-face helmet in a Formula One race.
Only Start: June 9, 1974, Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstrop
Result: Retirement
What happened: Kinnunen had been looking for a Formula One breakthrough for a handful of years, initially having a shot at Lotus with help from Jochen Rindt. After Rindt lost his life in an accident at Monza, negotiations broke down. Kinnunen was able to get a Surtees chassis and compete for the privateer AAW Racing Team. The team struggled with the weight of the car and Kinnunen failed to qualify for the Belgian Grand Prix. He qualified for the Swedish round in 25th out of 26 cars. The engine only lasted eight laps. He would attempt for more races but failed to qualify for all four and the team closed its doors.
Odds of a second start: Kinnunen died on July 26, 2017, about a week and a half before his 74th birthday.
Row 4
8. Stéphane Sarrazin
Claim to Fame: Two-time Le Mans Series champion. Four runner-up finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Three FIA World Endurance Championship race victories. Twenty-six points in the World Rally Championship. Thirty-seven Formula E starts.
Only Start: April 11, 1999, Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos
Result: Retirement
What happened: Luca Badoer had started the season for Minardi at Australia, but Badoer injured his hand in testing ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Minardi drafted in Sarrazin, then Prost Grand Prix test driver, for the second round of the season.
Prost gave Sarrazin his blessing telling Sarrazin, "Don't worry, as the Minardi is slow, you'll be at the back. There's no pressure, just try to learn."
Despite jumping into the unfamiliar car, Sarrazin qualified 18th, nearly seven-tenths faster than teammate Marc Gené in 21st. The race started well with Sarrazin passing Williams driver Alex Zanardi and the BAR of Jacques Villeneuve. He was up to 11th ahead of Prost driver Olivier Panis when his front wing failed entering the final corner and causing a massive shunt.
Odds of a second start: Sarrazin has been scaling back his sports car involvement in recent years. He is only 45 years old, and he was respectable in Formula E considering he had been out of single-seater racing for almost 15 years when he joined that series. I don't think it is going to happen.
7. Jean-Louis Schlesser
Claim to Fame: Two-time World Sportscar Champion with 15 World Sportscar race victories. 1981 24 Hours of Le Mans GTP 3.0 class winner and second overall. Two-time Dakar Rally winner. Nephew of Jo Schlesser.
Only Start: September 11, 1988, Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Result: 11th
What happened: This might be the most famous one-off Formula One start of them all. Schlesser was called in to replace an unfit Nigel Mansell at Williams. He qualified 22nd, well off teammate Riccardo Patrese, but he drove a respectable race and was up to 11th entering the final stages. On lap 49, Ayrton Senna was about to lap Schlesser for the second time. Entering Variante del Rettifilo, Schlesser went wide to give Senna the inside. Schlesser however locked up his tires and to avoid going off course he turned in and made contact with Senna's rear wing, spinning Senna and breaking the suspension of the McLaren.
With Senna out of the race, Ferrari took a 1-2 finish with Gerhard Berger ahead of Michele Alboreto in the first grand prix held after the passing of Enzo Ferrari. It was the only race McLaren did not win in the 1988 season.
Odds of a second start: Schlesser was still competing in the Africa Eco Rally up until 2014, but he has not done much circuit racing over the last 30 years. Odds are slim-to-none.
Row 3
6. Markus Winkelhock
Claim to Fame: Fourth in the 2003 Formula 3 Euro Series championship behind Ryan Briscoe, Christian Klien and Olivier Pla. Third in the 2005 Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship behind Robert Kubica and Adrián Vallés. 2012 FIA GT1 World Champion. 2017 Intercontinental GT Challenge champion. 2018 Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe Pro-Am champion. Three-time 24 Hours Nürburgring winner. Two-time Spa 24 Hours winner.
Only Start: July 22, 2007, European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring
Result: Retirement
What happened: Winkelhock had spent 2006 as a Midland test driver and was kept on when Spyker took over the organization. Christijan Albers left the team after Silverstone and it opened the door for Spyker to run two German drivers at the Nürburgring with Adrian Sutil and Winkelhock. Winkelhock knew it was only going to be a one-race deal, as Sakon Yamamoto was planning to take over the car after Germany.
Winkelhock was over 1.5 seconds off his teammate in qualifying and rounded out the grid in 22nd. As the cars rolled off on the reconnaissance lap, storm clouds approached the circuit. While every team faced a difficult decision, only one came to the pit lane for wet tires: Winkelhock.
The race started dry, but it only took a few corners for the deluge to commence. Twenty-one cars gingerly made it around the course on lap one, hoping not to throw away the race without getting a chance to change tires. Winkelhock did not have to make that stop and he inherited the lead with a 33-second gap over Felipe Massa.
The rain continued to fall and caused many cars to spin off track. The conditions led to a red flag at the end of lap seven. Winkelhock had led six laps. Not long after the cars stopped, the rain subsided, and the sun came out. The race restarted and Massa quickly retook the lead. Winkelhock fell down the order and hydraulic issues ended his race after 13 laps.
Odds of a second start: It is still possible. Winkelhock is only 40 years old and he has been a strong GT sports car driver ever since his one-and-only Formula One start. It will likely not happen. I can't see it happening, but Winkelhock could probably be respectable.
5. Oscar Gálvez
Claim to Fame: Five-time Turismo Carretera champion with 43 victories.
Only Start: January 18, 1953, Argentine Grand Prix at Buenos Aires
Result: 5th
What happened: Gálvez was brought in as the fourth Maserati driver alongside countrymen Juan Manuel Fangio and José Frolián González, and Italian Felice Bonetto. Gálvez qualified in the middle of the field but almost three seconds ahead of Bonetto. Ferrari proved to be the top team on this day with Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi finishing 1-2. González prevented a Ferrari sweep of the podium in third ahead of Mike Hawthorn and Gálvez stayed up with the front of the pack finishing fifth, one-lap down like the three cars ahead of him. He picked up two points in his only start.
Odds of a second start: Gálvez succumbed from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 on December 16, 1989.
Row 2
4. Gérard Larrousse
Claim to Fame: Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. 1969 Tour de Corse winer. 1971 12 Hours of Sebring winner.
Only Start: May 12, 1974, Belgian Grand Prix at Nivelles-Baulers
Result: Retirement
What happened: Scuderia Finotto was a privateer operation that leased two Brabham BT42s during the 1974 season. Larrousse qualified 28th ahead of Graham Hill, who was driving a Lola for his own team. Larrousse completed 53 of 85 laps in a low attrition race. His retirement due to a tire failure made him only the seventh car out of the 31-car field. A further six cars would retire over the final 32 laps.
Odds of a second start: Though Larrousse the driver never started another Formula One race, Larrousse the name competed in eight Formula One seasons as a constructor from 1987-1994. The team's only podium finish was third in the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix with Aguri Suzuki and those four points vaulted the team to sixth in the 1990 Constructors' Championship. Larrousse retired after his second Le Mans victory in 1974. He turns 81 years old on May 23.
3. André Lotterer
Claim to Fame: Three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. Two-time Super GT GT500 champion. 2011 Formula Nippon champion. Twenty-four Formula Nippon/Super Formula victories. 2012 World Endurance Drivers' Champion. Ten FIA World Endurance Championship victories. Six Formula E podium finishes.
Only Start: August 24, 2014, Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps
Result: Retirement
What happened: Lotterer's Formula One debut was facilitated with some help from Caterham team advisor Colin Kolles, who Lotterer drove for in a privateer Audi at Le Mans. Twelve years after being a Jaguar test driver, Lotterer made his first race weekend appearance stepping in for Kamui Kobayashi. He qualified ahead of teammate Marcus Ericsson, but he completed one lap before electrical issues took him out of the race. Lotterer was offered a chance to race at Monza the following week but turned it down when told he would not drive in the first practice because Roberto Mehri would get that session. Caterham offered Lotterer a race seat for Abu Dhabi but declined that offer as well.
Odds of a second start: I hold out hope because of how good Lotterer has been, but he is a Porsche driver and he is committed to its Formula E program for now. I expect Lotterer will play a role in Porsche's LMDh program. He turns 40 years old on November 19. It would not be crazy if a second opportunity fell into lap. It likely will not happen, but he would deserve a second shot.
Row 1
2. Dorino Serafini
Claim to Fame: 1939 European 500cc champion. Runner-up in the 1950 Mille Miglia.
Only Start: September 3, 1950, Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Result: 2nd
What happened: Serafini stepped into the Ferrari for the 1950 season finale after Luigi Villoresi was out with an injury. He qualified sixth and was running respectably in third entering the second half of the race. On lap 47, he stepped out of the car to allow Alberto Ascari to finish the race after Ascari had retired due to an engine failure. Ascari brought the car home in second, earning both drivers a podium finishes and they split the six points.
Odds of a second start: Serafini passed away on July 5, 2000, about two and a half weeks prior to his 91st birthday. Serafini, along with George Amick, will likely remain the only drivers to finish on the podium in every start of a Formula One career.
1. Bobby Unser
Claim to Fame: Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. Two-time IndyCar champion. Seventh all-time in IndyCar victories with 35. Ten-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner. 1975 IROC champion.
Only Start: October 6, 1968, United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen
Result: Retirement
What happened: Unser's first Formula One start was going to be the 1968 Italian Grand Prix. With help from Mario Andretti, Unser landed a ride with BRM. The two drivers were going to try and compete in the Italian Grand Prix and the Hoosier Hundred, which was going to be held the day before the grand prix. At that time, all practice sessions were qualifying sessions, meaning Andretti and Unser could set a time on Friday, leave to race in the United States on Saturday, and return for the grand prix on Sunday.
However, the Automobile Club d'Italia had a rule prohibiting any driver from competing within 24 hours of the start of the grand prix. Andretti qualified 10th and Unser 21st but neither driver returned after the Hoosier Hundred.
When Formula One headed to Watkins Glen, BRM drafted in Unser for a second time. Andretti won pole position while Unser qualified 19th. Unser's engine lasted 35 laps, three laps longer than Andretti's clutch in the Lotus.
Odds of a second start: Good golly, zero percent, but I bet Bobby Unser still believes he would be the best driver on the Formula One grid today. He turns 87 years old on February 20.
In summation...
This field combines for five overall 24 Hours of Le Mans victories...
Another six 24 Hours of Le Mans class victories...
Two 24 Hours of Daytona overall winners...
One 12 Hours of Sebring overall winner...
Three 24 Hours Nürburgring overall victories...
Two Spa 24 Hours overall victories...
Two Dubai 24 Hour overall victories...
Three Indianapolis 500 victories...
Eight Formula 5000 champions from across the world...
One grand prix motorcycle world champion...
One Macau Grand Prix winner...
Two Dakar Rally victories...
Ten Pikes Peak International Hill Climb victories...
And these 24 drivers combine for 24 Formula One starts.
