Meeting Mario Andretti

[Number9Dream]

I recently had the privilege to meet Mario Andretti at an event in which he was the guest of honor. He was down-to-earth, funny, and just exceptionally nice. He gladly signed autographs, and took photos. I got his autograph on a photo of him behind the wheel of his '78 Lotus F1. He told me that the Lotus was probably his favorite car. He also told me that the old Trenton speedway "was good to me (him)"... how humble. Later, he allowed us to view his Lamborghini inside and out. I'll always treasure meeting this humble icon.

[yesphan]

1. I was fortunate

to get to see him win the 500 in '69 in person. I was 12.

[gibraltar72]

2. Met he and brother Aldo

garages at Michigan international Speedway about 1968. Have always been a fan. He could drive anything.

[House of Roberts]

3. I met John Andretti at Road Atlanta at the SCCA runoffs in 1984.

That's as close as I've gotten to meeting any of their family. He was so humble he seemed almost embarrassed to be an Andretti.

I was so pleased when he was picked by Porsche to be their #2 driver in CART.

I've been a fan of all the Andrettis over the years, and still pull for Michael's drivers in Indycar today, which includes Marco, of course.

[MiniprotesterTodd]

4. Over 50 years as an Andretti fan

I’ve been an Andretti fan since I was nine years old. I followed his exploits in my weekly Autoweek starting in ‘69. He won as a guest driver for Ferrari and then starting winning for Lotus. I was hanging off the underside of a grandstand when he passed for the lead at the ‘78 Long Beach Grand Prix. I threw my hat in the air while hanging on with the other hand.

A decade later I was a racing journalist in the press room when he was winning at Laguna Seca in CART. Later still, I interviewed him after his career ended. His knowledge and focus on the competitive side of the sport blew me away. Not only did he share great stories, he told me WHY cars were good or bad.

It’s a tremendous measure of the man that after the media’s obsession with NASCAR over the last couple of decades, Andretti is still one of the most celebrated of American racing heroes.

[Number9Dream]

5. Welcome to DU, and thanks for your insights on Mr. Andretti, n/t

[luvs2sing]

6. Oh, I loved him as a teenager!

Read his autobiography, “What’s It Like Out There?”. It was just as you describe him, humble, self-deprecating, and very, very funny. Still remember Indy in ‘69..❤️

[djm5971]

7. My favorite driver

Mario's been my favorite ever since winning the 69 Indy 500. He and Ayrton Senna are my two favorites of all time.

[Number9Dream]

8. My favorite before I met him, and always - Welcome to DU