Andretti, Mario (1940—)

Mario Andretti is one of the most outstanding and exciting race car drivers of all time. During a career that began in the late 1950s, Andretti won four National Indy Car Championships, logged more than one hundred career victories, and captured more pole positions than any other driver in history.

Andretti was born in Montona, Italy, on February 28, 1940. His parents were farmers in northern Italy, but were in a displaced persons camp following the Second World War. Shortly before his family immigrated to the United States in 1955, Andretti attended his first auto race, the famous Mille Miglia, a thousand-mile road race through central and southern Italy. The teenager was enthralled by the driving skill of Alberto Ascari, who profoundly impacted his life.

His family settled in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and Andretti quickly set to work modifying stock cars. He won his first race in 1958 driving a Hudson Hornet. His racing career embraced dirt cars, midgets, sprint cars, sports cars, Indy cars, Formula One racers, and even dragsters. His versatility is seen in the fact that until 1989, Andretti was the only driver to win both a Formula One World Championship and an Indy Car National Title.

Andretti raced in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1965, and he had so much potential that he was selected "Rookie of the Year." He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1969. Even though everyone believed this would be the first of many victories at "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," Andretti seemed jinxed at Indianapolis. In spite of the fact that he often had the fastest car and was the favorite to win, on race day his car would break down or he would be involved in a wreck that would steal the win from his grasp. In 1981 Andretti lost the race after a controversial ruling. Although he was initially declared the winner of the race, several months later a panel took his victory away because of alleged passing violations. Bobby Unser was declared the victor.

Andretti was more successful at other events. He won the Daytona 500, multiple Sebring 12-hour events, and 12 Formula One Grand Prix races. He was USAC's Dirt Track champion in 1974 and five years later captured the title of the International Race of Champions. He was recognized as the Driver of the Year in 1967, 1978, and 1984, and even the Driver of the Quarter Century in 1992. He won the Formula One world championship in 1978, and was hailed as Indy Car champion four different years (1965, 1966, 1969, and 1984).

Drivers of his generation evaluated the success of their career by their accomplishments at the Indianapolis 500. Andretti's name is in the record books at Indianapolis for two accomplishments. He is tied for the distinction of winning the most consecutive pole positions (2) and setting the most one-lap track records (5).

Andretti has two sons, Michael and Jeffry, who have been successful race car drivers. Mario and Michael were, in fact, the first father-son team at the Indianapolis 500. Andretti's popularity has resulted in the marketing of various collectibles including trading card sets, model cars, toy racers, and electronic games.

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Prentzas, G. S. Mario Andretti. Broomall, Pennsylvania, Chelsea House, 1996.

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