INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been 39 years since an Andretti drove into Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500.
Still, Mario Andretti’s 1969 victory reminds the family greatness is possible at the famed Brickyard, the scene of a long run of bad luck and frustration for generations of Andrettis.
“Just think how bad it would be if I had never won it,” said the family patriarch, who retired after the 1994 season.
The star-crossed Indy history of the Andrettis — which includes Mario’s sons, Michael and Jeff, his grandson, Marco, and nephew, John — has only intensified the family’s longing for another swig of milk — the traditional drink of Indy 500 champions.
That thirst could be sated Sunday, when 21-year-old Marco and 45-year-old John will represent the family in the race’s 92nd edition.
“This is the biggest race in the world,” said Marco Andretti, who had a scary upside-down crash and finished 24th last year. “We’ve been trying to win this thing since ‘69, you know, five of us. I can’t put it into words what it would mean to myself, the team and the family (to win).”
Mario Andretti tried in vain to get a second Indy win 24 times. The best he did was a pair of seconds.
His son Jeff never contended in his three Indy starts, while nephew John, preparing for his ninth Indy 500 on Sunday, has never finished higher than fifth.
“Nothing ever changes,” Mario Andretti said earlier this week. “It’s still very special. The fact that we’ve been competitive here is some definite consolation for us to feel good about it.
“Sometimes, you can’t control the fate of the results. When Mike and I were at the top of our game, the reliability of the cars was not what it is today, and, obviously, we paid dearly for it. That’s why I wish that Michael would try it a few more times because you have a good chance of finishing now, and, if you can finish, you still can win this damn thing.”
Michael, who has led more laps at Indy than any other non-winner, came out of retirement to race here with son Marco the past two years. But in 16 tries, he has just one runner-up finish.
Now, the family’s greatest hopes seem to ride with third-generation driver Marco, who very nearly won as a rookie in 2006.
The youngster led coming off the last turn of the last lap only to have Indy veteran Sam Hornish Jr. snatch away the victory at the finish line.
Another disappointed Andretti.
“Through my dad and myself, he knows how hard it is to win (here) and, to come as close as he did, you know, that was tough,” said Michael, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, which won here in 2005 with Dan Wheldon and last year with Dario Franchitti. “Is he capable of winning it? Absolutely. Will it ever happen? I sure hope so. But you’ve got to be careful not to put your whole career on one race.”
And Marco insists the family’s struggles at Indy is no burden.
“I’m not pressured, because I want to win this race for myself,” he said. “I don’t feel pressure to win it for anything else.”
Though he looked relaxed and confident early in the week, he knows race weekend, particularly race day, can try a driver’s nerves.
“The way I look at it is, before I get into the car, I have the confidence that I’m going to do the best that I can do,” Marco said. “When I get out of the car, no matter what race, no matter what practice it is, I have to believe that Mario and Michael Andretti could not have done it better.”
Whatever happens Sunday, the Indy 500 will remain special to the Andretti family.
“We all know how important this event played in our careers and how much we have been part of it, how lucky we’ve been to have been in so many races,” Mario Andretti said. “This is one place that I feel I know every crack.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
