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Top 20 moments of 2013

Motorsport.com spent the final weeks of 2013 announcing its top moments of the year. Here they all are. Please take a moment and vote for your favourite moment of the year.

Fan memorial for Allan Simonsen at Tertre Rouge

Fan memorial for Allan Simonsen at Tertre Rouge

Eric Gilbert

Last year is officially history and now the the entire top 20 list of moments has been revealed, we present the entire list for your reading enjoyment. Motorsport.com's staff of writers and photographers brings you their top moments, complete with stunning photographs from the season gone by.

Top 20 moments of 2013, #1: A tragic year in motorsports

#30 NGT Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with the Sean Edwards memorial livery
#30 NGT Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with the Sean Edwards memorial livery

Photo by: Trevor Horn

2013 saw a long list of drivers who perished doing what they love. From Allan Simonsen's tragic wreck early in the 24 hours of Le Mans, to Pirelli World Challenge driver Roger Rodas and his friend and Hollywood star Paul Walker, it was a difficult year for all involved in the sport of racing.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #2: The loss of Speed Channel

Fans at the Speed Channel stage
Fans at the Speed Channel stage

Photo by: Trevor Horn

North America's only racing dedicated channel was lost to the FOX conglomerates lust for stick and ball sports, leaving hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of race fans without a television channel to turn to.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #3: Sebastian Vettel, the booed champion

Race winner Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium
Race winner Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium

Photo by: XPB Images

He has almost won every race there is to win on the Formula One circuit, he has won four consecutive titles. Despite his successes, he has found a way to be booed while standing on the top step of the podium. It was a whirlwind year for Sebastian Vettel, the booed champion.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #4: Dario Franchitti, forced to retire

Dario Franchitti, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Dario Franchitti, Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

Photo by: Covy Moore

He wasn't having the strongest season of his career, but long time North American open wheel champion Dario Franchitti found himself ending his season with the announcement of his retirement after a very scary accident at the Houston round of the IndyCar season. Suffering a broken leg and severe concussion, doctors told the Scot to hang up his helmet.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #5: Spingate

Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr.
Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr.

Photo by: Getty Images

Michael Waltrip Racing would lose a driver, a huge sponsor and some of its credibility after a call made at the Chase setting race in Richmond this season. With one driver needing a couple more points to make the post season, the team ordered one driver to spin, and another to come to pit lane to guarantee their driver made the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #6: Multi 21

The podium: Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, second; Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, race winner; Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, third
The podium: Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, second; Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, race winner; Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, third

Photo by: XPB Images

Sebastian Vettel disobeyed team orders to bring both Red Bull Racing cars home clean in the early season race at Malaysia, and instead overtook team mate Mark Webber is a very risky battle. Webber made a stink about the overtake, sharing the team order and his displeasure with the world.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #7: Mercedes "testgate"

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W04 leads team mate Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W04
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W04 leads team mate Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W04

Photo by: XPB Images

An early season unapproved test with Mercedes and Pirelli gave the German team an unfair advantage, causing the rest of the field to submit complaints to the FIA. After a short but high profile hearing, both Mercedes and Pirelli were slapped on the wrist. The team was able to claim a couple of wins this season, likely from the data received from the tire test.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #8: Four-wide finish at Indianapolis

Peter Dempsey, Belardi Auto Racing takes the win
Peter Dempsey, Belardi Auto Racing takes the win

Photo by: Jay Alley

Every so often, two cars battle to the finish line. In very rare cases, three cars will have a photo finish at the line. But for the first time in history a four-wide, photo finish greeted fans during the Indy Lights race in May at the 'Speedway. Peter Dempsey claimed the win over three powerhouse drivers.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #9: Kimi Raikkonen and his drama filled season

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 E21 retired from the race on the first lap
Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 E21 retired from the race on the first lap

Photo by: XPB Images

The flying Finn had a busy season. He dealt with not being paid by Lotus, despite bringing the team to the top step of the podium. He cut his hair in a style that made fans think he should be on a basketball court. He signed a two-year contract with his old team, Ferrari, and opted to get back surgery over finish the racing season.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #10: Tony Kanaan wins the Indy 500

Race winner Tony Kanaan, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet celebrates
Race winner Tony Kanaan, KV Racing Technology Chevrolet celebrates

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

Brazilian Tony Kanaan is a fan favourite. He always has a smile on his face, and this season he claimed the biggest prize in North American open wheel racing, the Indy 500.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #11: TUSC goes airborne

#90 Spirit Of Daytona Corvette DP: Richard Westbrook, Michael Valiante
#90 Spirit Of Daytona Corvette DP: Richard Westbrook, Michael Valiante

Photo by: Trevor Horn

American sportscar racing will be unified in 2014, with the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship on tap. But before they take the green flag, balance of performance must be tweaked. During the first test at Daytona, new parts caused two Daytona Prototypes to become airborne, and crashing hard. Luckily no one was hurt, but the incidents pushed the series back two steps.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #12: Marc Marquez, the rookie champion

2013 champion Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
2013 champion Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Repsol Media

Every once in a while, a young competitor comes along and shows off his skills. This year, rookie Marc Marquez broke numerous records for young winners, pole sitters and consecutive wins, among others. On top of that he claimed the MOTOGP title.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #13: Tony Stewart's season halted due to sprint car injury

Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Tony Stewart's season came to a grinding halt after he severely hurt his leg in a sprint car wreck. Mark Martin and Ty Dillon took over for the sidelined driver. During that time, the team signed Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch, and ditched Ryan Newman for 2014.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #14: Volkswagen and Ogier take World Rally title

Winners Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen Polo WRC, Volkswagen Motorsport
Winners Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen Polo WRC, Volkswagen Motorsport

Photo by: Volkswagen Motorsport

Sebastien Ogier joined the new VW team in the World Rally Championship with hopes of a podium or two, but instead dominated the year en route to the world title.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #15: Father-son take NHRA titles in the same season

Rickie Smith
Rickie Smith

Photo by: NHRA

Rickie Smith won the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series title driving a nitrous-fed IDG Chevrolet Camaro; four weeks later son Matt Smith secured his second NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle championship (his first came in 2007) riding a self-tuned Viper Racing Buell.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #16: Jimmie Johnson claims his sixth title

2013 champion Jimmie Johnson
2013 champion Jimmie Johnson

Photo by: Getty Images

Not many drivers win one title. Not many win two either. But NASCAR ace Jimmie Johnson has made his way to 6 titles. One more and he will tie the King and the Intimidator.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #17: Porsche returns to Le Mans

The 2014 Porsche LMP1 drivers are announced
The 2014 Porsche LMP1 drivers are announced

Photo by: Porsche AG

Audi has dominated the P1 endurance ranks for some time, but with Toyota hot on their heels, the announcement of a P1 effort from Porsche makes the prospective battles in 2014 intriguing.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #18: Two at Indy in 2014

The Pagoda
The Pagoda

Photo by: Jay Alley

In an effort to increase revenues and sales at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, INDYCAR brass opted to add a second race during the month of May which brought mixed reviews from fans.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #19: Loeb masters Pikes Peak

Winner Sébastien Loeb with second place Rhys Millen
Winner Sébastien Loeb with second place Rhys Millen

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Records were made to be broken. Right? Well rally ace Sebastian Loeb proved that some records are not only meant to be broken, but meant to be destroyed. Loeb broke the previous record by 1 minute and 33 seconds, and beat second place by 50 seconds.

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Top 20 moments of 2013, #20: Sweet 16 for John Force

John Force
John Force

Photo by: Anne Proffit

Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Michael Schumacher. Those are some names who could be considered drivers who have a dynasty in racing. John Force, however, has more titles to his name than any other driver in racing, claiming his 16th title in 2013.

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