Mario Andretti: Still A Driving Force In Motor Sports (Part #2)

Mario Andretti speaking at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Mario Andretti was the honored guest at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races at the recent event held in conjunction with Monterey Auto Week. Here’s the final installment of a two-post interview with the legendary driver. I was one of about 20 journalists who interviewed Andretti in an administrative building near the raceway paddock.

Question: Is the Lotus 79 your favorite car?

MA: It’s definitely one of the favorite cars of my career, no question about it. It’s one of the few cars I really feel I understood. I understood its pluses and minuses, if you will. I think I was really able to extract what the car could give me. And the payback was very handsome. But it wasn’t a given. If you got it wrong, you really got it wrong. You had to go for the sweet spot. “

Q: What part of your career brings back the fondest memories?

MA: From as personal standpoint, I have to tell you that winning the Italian Grand Prix and clinching the World Championship had to have been the ultimate in my career. In Italy, at age 14, that’s where I saw my very first Formula One race. I was still in a refugee camp and that’s where my dreams really began of pursuing my career.

To read part 1, click here: Mario Andretti