Mario turns 70 today

UPDATE Happy birthday to Mario Andretti, who turns 70 today. And the party will continue to the first race of the F1 season as Andretti will go to Bahrain to be part of the celebrations of the 60 years of the Formula One World Championship, and he will be joined by a bunch of other champions and his Lotus 79 in which he won the 1978 title.

Mario and his Lotus 79

Andretti will be reunited with the Lotus 79 in which he won the 1978 Formula 1 drivers' title at this year's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The American racing legend, who turned 70 today, is one of a number of former champions who will attend the season opening F1 race in Bahrain to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the F1 World Championship (started in 1950). Triple champions Sir Jack Brabham and Sir Jackie Stewart, double title winner Emerson Fittipaldi, and 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell will also appear.

"I'm delighted to be invited and to be part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of F1," said Andretti, for whom the visit will be his first to Bahrain. "This is something very special to me.

"I have followed the six previous races with great interest. It looks like a spectacular venue and I can't wait for what will certainly be a weekend of excitement on the track, as well as fun and reminiscing with good friends."

02/28/10 Mario Andretti was born on this day (February 28th) in 1940, in Montona, Italy. He now 70-years old.