Mario Andretti's love for cars began at an
early age in his native Italy when he saw
great Alberto Ascari race at Monza.
Influenced by this legendary driver,
Andretti began his own racing career in
1959 - at the age of 19 - in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
The first of Mario's victories came in the
very first race he entered in Nazareth, at
the wheel of a 1948 Hudson Hornet
Sportsman stock car that he, his brother
and some friends had built. Mario's career
flourished as he won 20 races in the
Sportsman Class in his first two seasons.
The last of Mario's record 407 Champ Car
races was October 9, 1994 at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. And at that point he
had won just about everything: The Indy
500, The Daytona 500, The Champ Car
National Championship (four times).
Mario drove with a passion that few have
equated. Mario took the checkered flag 111
times during his career - a career that
spanned five decades. He's been named
Driver of the Year in the 60's, 70's and
80's, Driver of the Quarter Century in the
90's and America's Driver of the 20th
Century. |
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THE ROAD TO THE DRIVER OF THE CENTURY HONORS
 Four-time Champ Car National Champ (1965, 66, 69, 84)
Formula One World Champion (1978)
Daytona 500 Winner (1967)
Three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner (66, 67, 87)
Indianapolis 500 Winner (1969)
Three-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner (67, 70, 72)
Pikes Peak Hill Climb winner (1969)
IROC Champion/International Race of Champions (1979)
Only driver to be named Driver of the Year in three different decades (67, 78, 84)
Named Driver of the Quarter Century (1992)
by vote of past Drivers of the Year and a panel of 12 journalist
All-time leader in Champ Car pole positions won (1967)
USAC National Dirt Track Champion (1974)
All-time leader in wire-to-wire Champ Car victories (14)
All-time leader in Champ Car race starts (407)
All-time leader in wire-to-wire Champ Car victories (14)
Second in all-time Champ Car Victories
Only driver ever to win Champ Car races in four decades
All-time Champ Car lap leader (7,587)
Only driver ever to win races in five decades
Oldest race winner in Champ Car history, at age 53
Took checkered flag 111 times during his 36-year career
1st driver to win Champ and Formula One Championships
Named Driver of the Century by Associated Press (12/10/99)
Names Driver of the Century by RACER Magazine (01/00)
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[ Mario Visits the "PowerBlock" ] |
[ Mario Bonus Footage ] |
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