| Mario Andretti and his twin brother Aldo were born | | | | Prix, his first Grand Prix win. He won the United |
| on February 28, 1940 in Montona, Isria that was then | | | | States Grand Prix West at Long Beach in 1977, the |
| part of Italy. His father, Luigi, worked as a farm | | | | only American to ever win it as of that time. Andretti |
| administrator. At the end of World War ll, Isria was | | | | returned to Indy Car racing 1982. Mario's son, Michael |
| separated from Italy and made part of Yugoslavia | | | | followed in his footsteps and together they were the |
| under the Treaty of Paris. So in 1948 Andretti's | | | | first father/son team to compete in IMSA GT and |
| family joined the Isrian exodus to a camp in Lucca, | | | | Champ Car racing. |
| Italy. In 1955 they came to the United States of | | | | Andretti ran twenty-nine times in the Indy 500 but |
| America and went to live in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. | | | | won only once. |
| Andretti's interest in cars began at a very early age | | | | Andretti also competed in endurance racing. He was a |
| as he piloted his toy wooden cars along the streets | | | | three time winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring. He |
| of his hometown in Italy. | | | | won the 24 Hours of Daytona once in 1972. He |
| When the Andretti twins arrived in Nazareth, they | | | | entered the 24 Hours of LeMans in four different |
| found the town had a half-mile dirt-racing track so | | | | decades for a total of nine competitions. His best |
| they started working in their uncle's garage to earn | | | | finish was second place in 1995. |
| money for a 1948 Hudson Hornet Sportsman stock | | | | Andretti was named 'Driver of the Year' in the United |
| car. They then started racing it on the tracks around | | | | States three times in three decades. On October 23, |
| Nazareth. This was kept secret from their parents | | | | 2006 the Italian government awarded him the highest |
| until Aldo was injured. Mario won three races in 1963. | | | | honor that can be given to a civilian, the |
| Then in 1964 he entered the USAC sprint car and | | | | Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica |
| Indy car races. The following year he placed third in | | | | Italiana in recognition of his career in racing, public |
| the Indianapolis 500 and won the Rookie of the Year | | | | service and devotion to his Italian heritage. He is the |
| Award. While some drivers choose to specialize in | | | | second person from automotive racing to receive |
| one or two types of racing, Andretti was extremely | | | | this honor. The first was Enzo Ferrari. |
| versatile competing in every type of race on every | | | | Andretti married Dee Ann, his English teacher from |
| type of track. | | | | 1961. They still live in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Mario |
| Andretti won nine open wheel races in 1969 and in | | | | devotes his retirement to his various businesses and |
| that same year won the Indy 500 and the season | | | | numerous speaking engagements. He also works as a |
| championship. Andretti started running Formula One in | | | | test driver for Road & Track and Car and Driver |
| 1968. Then in 1971 he won the South African Grand | | | | magazines. |