Mario Andretti

Birthday: 28 February 1940, Montona, Istria, Italy [now Motovun, Istria, Croatia]

Birth Name: Mario Gabriele Andretti

Height: 171 cm

One of America's greatest racing drivers, Mario Andretti has virtually won it all, the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the International Race of Champion series (IROC), the CART and Formula 1 World titles. Andretti was born in Croatia (he has a twin brother - Aldo) and with his family moved to the United States in 1955. Ever since he was a little boy, his goal was to win the world championship and he accomplished this in 1978 as America's second and last world champion (he was naturalized when he was in his teens). He later won the CART title (America's top open-wheel series) and retired from racing in 1995. His son Michael is also a CART champion and still races (as of 10-99). Andretti is still enormously popular with race fans and is one of the most recognized personalities in the sport. Show less «

What I learned is that in business you must make decisions based on facts, not react with your heart...Show more »

What I learned is that in business you must make decisions based on facts, not react with your heart. Show less «

If you don't come walking back to the pits every once in a while holding a steering wheel in your ha...Show more »

If you don't come walking back to the pits every once in a while holding a steering wheel in your hands, you're not trying hard enough Show less «

A racing car is an animal with a thousand adjustments.

The crashes people remember, but drivers remember the near misses.

You do a period of go-karting until you're at the age of qualifying for a ride in a 'school-kart,' t...Show more »

You do a period of go-karting until you're at the age of qualifying for a ride in a 'school-kart,' then you qualify for driving school. And several of the driving schools have a competition series for their own students. Show less «

I lived the true American dream, because I was able to pursue what I set as my goals at a very young...Show more »

I lived the true American dream, because I was able to pursue what I set as my goals at a very young age. Show less «

Do it no matter what. If you believe in it, it is something very honorable. If somebody around you o...Show more »

Do it no matter what. If you believe in it, it is something very honorable. If somebody around you or your family does not understand it, then that's their problem. But if you do have a passion, an honest passion, just do it. Show less «

The first time I fired up a car, felt the engine shudder and the wheel come to life in my hands, I w...Show more »

The first time I fired up a car, felt the engine shudder and the wheel come to life in my hands, I was hooked. It was a feeling I can't describe. I still get it every time I get into a race car. Show less «

Failure is success if we learn from it.

If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

For every negative, there's a positive. It's in everything. How you deal with life, outlook, how muc...Show more »

For every negative, there's a positive. It's in everything. How you deal with life, outlook, how much energy you put into achieving something. That's why I detest entitlement. Anything that's worthwhile is going to call for some sacrifice. Nothing worthwhile will come to you without a price. People think in sports, you have different rules. You really don't. It's whatever motivates you, Show less «

In racing, there is no question who is best - the first one to cross the finish line wins first priz...Show more »

In racing, there is no question who is best - the first one to cross the finish line wins first prize. But with wine, even if you make the best wine in the world, someone isn't going to like it, because it isn't their style. Judging wine is very subjective. Show less «

I've always said I didn't have a Plan B in life. I was in pursuit of my dream from the very beginnin...Show more »

I've always said I didn't have a Plan B in life. I was in pursuit of my dream from the very beginning. It's all about desire and passion. At all costs. Show less «

Motor racing is like one big family, ultimately, and when you come back to it, that's really what it...Show more »

Motor racing is like one big family, ultimately, and when you come back to it, that's really what it feels like. Show less «

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal.

Love what you do. Believe in your instincts. And you'd better be able to pick yourself up and brush ...Show more »

Love what you do. Believe in your instincts. And you'd better be able to pick yourself up and brush yourself off every day. Show less «

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yoursel...Show more »

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs. Show less «

I don't have many superstitions, just dumb things I don't talk about. I will not sign an autograph w...Show more »

I don't have many superstitions, just dumb things I don't talk about. I will not sign an autograph with a green pen. Show less «

It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing ...Show more »

It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down. Show less «

A goal isn't something you just arrive at and stop.You have to stay curious and hungry and foolish.....Show more »

A goal isn't something you just arrive at and stop.You have to stay curious and hungry and foolish.... Show less «

Speed is relative. You have to live it. You can't just jump into it. You have to live it all the tim...Show more »

Speed is relative. You have to live it. You can't just jump into it. You have to live it all the time. Show less «

[on excellence] Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to unrele...Show more »

[on excellence] Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to unrelenting pursuit of your goal--a commitment to excellence--that will enable you to attain the success you seek. Show less «

Desire is the key to motivation.

You do the best you can with what's thrown at you, then you try again.

Mario Andretti

Mario Andretti's FILMOGRAPHY

Mario Andretti'S roles

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