Mario Andretti’s love affair with racing still burns bright

Mario Andretti at his California winery

NAZARETH, Pa. — The Driver of the Century (the 20th, that is) is 75 years old and hasn’t driven competitively for years.

That doesn’t mean, however, that Mario Andretti has slowed down — or that he plans to.

After a Christmas holiday that saw the entire Andretti clan (wife Dee Ann, three children and seven grandchildren) gather at Mario’s sprawling estate on the outskirts of town for the first time in several years, Andretti is looking at a 2016 schedule that will find him hopping across the country for appearances and to drive fast cars as part of the pre-race show at Verizon IndyCar Series events.

Andretti drove a modified two-seat Indy car at nine IndyCar race sites last year, giving fans a unique on-track perspective at speeds approaching race speeds. He said he’s adding at least three tracks to that schedule this season, and he will continue to be part of the pace-laps run-up to the start of the races in the two-seater.

“I embrace my opportunities to do the two-seater program," Andretti said. “I like to drive. I like the car. I like the speed."

Andretti’s run during pre-race at this year’s Indianapolis 500 will be more special than most because Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be celebrating the 100th running of the “greatest spectacle in racing." Along with four-time 500 winner A.J. Foyt and other key drivers in Indy history, Andretti, winner of the 1969 500, is expected to play a big role in events and promotions leading to the May 29 race.

Although some drivers fade into the sunset after ending their driving careers, Andretti, more than 20 years after retirement, remains heavily involved, both in his business-related racing endeavors and in those of son (IndyCar team owner) Michael and grandson (driver) Marco.

Mario Andretti celebrates after winning the 1969 Indianapolis 500. (AP)

“As a family, that’s all we know," he said. “I don’t see myself ever divorcing myself from the sport, no matter what. As long as I can walk, I want to be in it. I have skin in the game. Michael is still young as a team owner, and Marco, of course, very young as a driver.

“As long as we have racing, that’s what we enjoy. I love the sport so much. I love the people in it. It’s where my friends are, where my extended family is. Would I ever let go of that? No. It’s too precious to me. In a word, it’s my life."

Andretti has lived in Nazareth since his family moved to the United States from Italy in 1955. In a career that included racing in Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR and assorted other series (and one that produced an F1 championship, an Indy 500 win and a Daytona 500 win), he was often encouraged to relocate closer to his team shops.

He never wanted to move, he said, and private planes gave him a quick connection to far-flung speedways.

“As an example," he said, “I won the French Grand Prix at Dijon in 1977. After going through all the festivities there, I got a helicopter ride back to Paris, Then I flew the Concorde to New York. My plane dropped me off near our lake house in the Pocono Mountains (in Pennsylvania). I was home in time to watch the last 10 minutes of the (delayed broadcast) race."

It’s a new year. Andretti will be flying again. Mike Hembree/USA Today