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
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 go to bed is around 11, and I do that for every race. I get good sleep. I don't lie awake for any race. That's my routine.
I will always enter a race car from the left side. Always. Why? I have no idea.
My last race was at Le Mans in 2000, my first race was in 1959, so I dodged a lot of bullets along the way, I can tell you that.
My biggest concern during a race is getting bored. The biggest thing I have to combat is falling asleep while going around and around.
You're safer in the race car than you are in cars going to and from the track.
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.
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.
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.
Can the U.S. support two Formula 1 races? I think so.
He's very much at ease with where he's at and who he is. The jury is still out (with his driving); the ultimate proof is in the races. But as a rookie going in, is he well-prepared? I think so.
In the U.S., we really have fallen short of road-racing facilities that have kept up with the times, unfortunately, but it's a fact.
We don't need someone else to tell us when he's ready. We wouldn't put him out there if we didn't think he was.
There is so much more demand for Formula One than it can supply. You have governments investing in circuits all over the world, and the private sector sometimes has a tough time competing with that.