The pioneers of motor sports were the best drivers. They had to have more skill to drive the cars around the track. The cars today have the best engineering money can buy. Back in the day they had only ideas that were not always safe. I am not saying that todays drivers are not skilled , they go faster than most racing has ever gone before. They just have much better equipment.
Just think of it this way , the first NASCAR guys were driving cars through the hills and mountains at over 90 MPH with mechanical brakes on skinny tires.