Mario for Pope

Mario for Pope sign at Watkins Glen in 1978 after Mario had just clinched the F1 title

Photo by: Mark Cipolloni/AR1.com

A reader writes, Dear AR1.com, Since the current Pope is done on Feb 28, and that is Mario Andretti's birthday, I sure hope they consider him for the job. He will only be 73, and was born in Italy.

Do you think we should start a petition and send it to the Vatican? Tim DeCesaro

Dear Tim, Funny you should mention this. Another reader just wrote, Just saw my picture posted on your website (http://www.autoracing1.com/markc/000803MarioTribute.htm ) Do you have any more of the Mario for Pope pictures, in 78 at Watkins Glen?? I ran into Mario in 2008, at SEMA, in Las Vegas and we both got a chuckle out of our sign. Greg Denny