The
Name Everyone Knows In Racing
Every sport has standouts. Names that are forever
linked to the sport or to the era that the person
took part in that sport. Auto racing is no exception
to that rule. It has names that are forever linked
directly to it. The name that stands out in the
last half of the 20th Century is Mario Andretti.
His name is known around the world. Andretti is
perhaps one of the best known drivers in the sport
of auto racing. Andretti's career covers more
than thirty years and encompasses nearly every
type of auto racing done. Andretti has raced them
all and won them all. The Italian born, naturalized
American, has won in Indy Car racing, USAC dirt
track, NASCAR, Formula 1 and endurance events.
If it has four wheels, an engine and a steering
wheel, he can drive it and probably win in it.
Pictured on this page is the STP Ford/Hawk that
Andretti drove to victory in the 1969 Indy 500
at a recording setting pace of 156.867 mph. This
win and many others helped to make Andretti a
household word. He has won many driving championships
including four Indy Car and the F1 World Championship.
Even in the years that he did not win the championship,
he placed within the top ten. Off track honors
have included ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete
of the Year. Andretti's personally is tied to
the sport and this has allowed him to continue
to this day as a spokesperson for automotive products.
The Andretti name still appears on racing pylons
as both his son and nephew race in Indy car and
NASCAR respectively. Andretti is a name that everyone
knows in auto racing. |
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