Race Car drivers perform in some of the toughest and deadliest sports and consequently are among the highest paid athletes in the world. Risking life and limb in their pursuit to be champion, a race car driver by virtue of their work and experience, know and understand cars better than most.

Spending a lot of their time on track, going around it at break neck speeds during practice or race proper, it comes as no surprise that given their familiarity with going fast, when it comes to their choice of ride, a racing driver would choose the fastest, most expensive exotics available for sale.

Whether for personal use, an addition to their collection or as an investment, race car drivers have owned, driven some of the most amazing cars, a feat made possible by their multimillion dollar salaries and endorsement deals. In this article, we'll see how these mega bucks are spent by these top athletes on - These are the sickest cars owned by racecar drivers.

15 Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Camaro

Chevy Camaro

Coming from a racing family, Jr., as they call the second Dale Earnhardt to race in NASCAR has an impressive collection of cars he has accumulated through the years, among them are a couple of cool high performance Camaros that he wanted to sell a few years back.

14 Richard Petty - Mustang GT King

Mustang King edition

With his long history in NASCAR, Richard Petty, or the King has had his fair share of incredible rides, including his race winning Dodge Charger and his iconic Plymouth Superbird. Among his recent cars, one that stands out is his Ford Mustang designated as the GT King.

13 Tony Stewart - Lamborghini Murcielago

Murcielago

Nicknamed Smoke, Tony Stewart has raced in NASCAR, Indy 500, Sprint and others. His colorful racing career has seen him win several championship series and trophies to his name and add several colorful cars to his collection, including an orange Lamborghini Murcielago.

Related: 25 Personal Cars Of Race Car Drivers

12 Kyle Busch - Lexus LFA

LFA

Kyle Busch is another racing driver that comes from a racing pedigree. The younger brother of Kurt Busch, his racing career is has seen him win several NASCAR championships. Nicknamed the "Candyman" his moniker is indeed apt, as some rides in his collection, including this rare Lexus LFA, are indeed sweet.

11 Nigel Mansell - Ferrari F40

F40

Considered as one of F1's elder statesmen, Nigel Mansell holds the distinct honor as the only person to hold both the World Drivers Championship, and American Open Wheel Championship at the same time. His passion for speed is also seen in his cars, among them, a Ferrari considered among the best made by the brand, the legendary F40.

10 Alain Prost - McLaren F1 Prototype

Mclaren F1PT

Back in the late '80s to the early '90s, the rivalry between two of the best drivers in F1 electrified and captivated motor racing fans around the world. Alain Prost "The Professor" is one half of this rivalry, and his calculated, precise skills catapulted him to F1 Championship with team McLaren. No surprise then that one of his cars is a very rare McLaren F1 prototype.

9 Ayrton Senna - Honda NSX

Honda NSX

More than two decades after his untimely passing, the skill, courage and talent in F1 remains unmatched and as the ultimate accolade, is considered by champion F1 drivers past and present as the best driver ever. During his racing career, his cars were powered by Honda and was instrumental in developing one of his personal rides, the Honda NSX.

Related: 10 Actors Who Are Also Race Car Drivers

8 Mika Hakkinen - McLaren P1

Mclaren P1

"The Flying Finn" Mika Hakkinen was a rival and considered as the opposite of F1 great Michael Schumacher. Driving for McLaren, Mika's driving style contrasted with his rival and had many epic battles during several seasons. An F1 champion himself, Mika is one of the few owners of one of the best supercars made, the McLaren P1.

7 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari FXX

FXX

With seven titles inlcuding four consecutive championships, Michael Schumacher is the record holder for most number of championship wins in F1. Sadly, his skiing accident in 2013 that resulted in severe injury would make driving competitively again unlikely. A true driving legend, among his collection of cars is the very rare, track only Ferrari FXX

6 Fernando Alonso - Ferrari LaFerrari

LaFerrari

F1, Le Mans, Daytona. The racing experience and wins of renowned Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is a lengthy list showcasing his natural talent behind the wheel. With two championships under his belt, Alonso also counts several really nice cars in his garage, one of which is the current Ferrari flagship car, the Ferrari LaFerrari.

5 Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari Enzo

Ferrari Enzo

The Iceman - Kimi Raikkonen truly is one of the coolest drivers F1 has seen. Known for his driving skill and his offbeat personality on and off the track, his demeanor has endeared him to fellow drivers and fans alike. A world champion during his stint with Ferrari, he also owns an iconic car bearing the prancing horse logo, the might Ferrari Enzo.

4 Daniel Ricciardo - Porsche 918 Spyder

Posrche 918 Spyder

Australian Daniel Ricciardo has is one of F1's most competitive drivers, although holding no titles to his name yet, his move from Red Bull to Renault is seen as a new start to his promising career. A known car fanatic, Ricciardo owns several cars including a super exotic, the Porsche 918 Spyder.

3 Charles Leclerc - Ferrari Pista

Ferrari Pista

As Ferrari F1's newest driver, Charles Leclerc is seen as one of the rising stars in Formula One after his initial races showed both his driving skill and adaptability on track. This twenty-two year old racer is also the proud owner of one of the latest model Ferrari's, the gorgeous looking Pista.

2 Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari California

Ferrari California

Sebastian Vettel holds several of "The Youngest" records in F1, and made history after winning the constructors championships for his then team Red Bull. A holder of four world championship titles, Vettel also drives the same make of car as his current team, the powerful Ferrari California.

1 Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes Project 1

MB Project 1

Second to Michael Schumacher in number of championships, Lewis Hamilton is considered one of the greatest F1 drivers. His long association with Mercedes has seen him continue to dominate modern F1 and is poised to take another championship for this season. As a brand ambassador of Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is also an owner of one of the brand's most stunning cars ever made, the Mercedes Project 1.

Next: 10 Everyday Cars Of NASCAR's Top Drivers