Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andrettiis an Italian American former racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR. He also won races in midget cars, and sprint cars. During his career, Andretti won the 1978 Formula One World Championship, four IndyCar titles, and IROC VI. To date, he remains the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth28 February 1940
CityMotovun, Croatia
CountryUnited States of America
I've driven just about every kind of car there is.
I don't think I could have called my career complete without racing in IROC. You always compete against the best of the best.
Car accidents are the leading killer of teens in this country. Teens are just learning to drive and face many distractions, so they're at a very high risk for accidents. We want to help teens learn good, safe habits from the very beginning. Our hope is our Safety Scholars program will help us find the best way to get all teens to hear this important message.
With tennis, you can go pick up a racket, take a lesson, and understand how much talent and skill it takes to be as good as the top pros. Same with golf: pick up a club. But not many can go out and get in a race car and experience a drive at over 200 miles an hour.
I will always enter a race car from the left side. Always. Why? I have no idea.
I'm so thankful that I've had such a long and uninterrupted career. I count my blessings every day for that because it was so fulfilling.
Sometimes you have to bring back only the steering wheel so the car owner will know that you're giving it all you have.
The United States is the only country where a driver can have a successful career - either in stock cars or IndyCar - and he won't need a passport.
You're safer in the race car than you are in cars going to and from the track.
Tom Carnegie will never be replaced.
If a neighbor is killed in a car accident, do you sell your car and stop driving?
The first time I fired up a car, felt the engine shudder and the wheel come to life in my hands, I was hooked. It was a feeling I can't describe. I still get it every time I get into a race car.
A racing car is an animal with a thousand adjustments.
You feel for guys you know deserve it, that you know have the ability but will be considered less of a champion if they don't get it done. That's why the guy that wins it does somersaults.