Mario Andretti

He is an ardent wine lover, wine maker and is also the Vice Chairman of Andretti Winery, located in Napa Valley, California. He also owns a petroleum business.

Mario Andretti was born in in Motovun, Croatia, along with his twin brother Aldo to Italian parents, Luigi Andretti, a farm manager, and Rina.

As a thirteen year old boy, he had participated in the Formula Junior in Italy, which was his first-hand experience at the sport of racing. He was inspired by Alberto Ascari, a two-time Formula One world champion.

In 1955, his family moved to the United States of America and settled in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and they became American citizens.

In 1964, he was the winner of the Joe James-Pat O'Connor Memorial USAC sprint race that was held at the Salem Speedway in Indiana.

In 1965, he participated in the United States Automobile Club stock car race and finished twelfth in the race but after two years he won this race.

In 1968 and 1969, he was the winner of the ‘The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Championship’ and he also won ‘The 1967 Daytona 500’.

In 1969, he was victorious at the Indianapolis 500 and also won the championship trophy that season. By now, he had won 29 USAC championship races.

In 1971, he raced in a Ferrari at the South African Grand Prix. He won the race and that year he also won the non-championship Questor Grand Prix in the U.S for the Italian team.

In 1967, 1978 and 1984, he was conferred the title of ‘Driver of the Year in the United States.

In 1990, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

In 1992, he was bestowed the title of ‘the U.S. Driver of the Quarter Century’.

In 1996, he was inducted into the United States National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

In 2000, he was conferred the title of ‘Driver of the Century’, a title that was bestowed upon him by the Associated Press and RACER magazine.