top 3, no particular order:
Flatout
Burnout
Split/Second

Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now
Crash Team Racing
Lotus Trilogy (dat soundtrack on Amiga .)

Would I be too oldschool if I suggested Championship / Super Sprint?

It may be a boring answer but I like the vehicular combat racing games, like Mario Kart and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Pole Position ;-)

Mario Cart on the WII :)

I really enjoyed the burnout series (played it on xbox and ps). Have to play it on PC to compare :-)

Another vote here for Carmageddon II. Viper Racing (1998) is a close second though. Both had awesome damage modeling.

Ignition. Yes.

Need for Speed Most Wanted 2005

Live For Speed, probably followed by Forza 3 on 360 :)