The recent announcement that IndyCar is offering $5 million for a non-regular if they can win the season finale in 2011 in Las Vegas has got people thinking – not least Mario Andretti, the 1978 Formula 1 World Champion, who is considering having a go at the money in one of his son Michael’s cars, racing his grandson Marco.
“Paul Newman was similar age when he competed in Le Mans and he was 80 when he raced at Daytona in the 24 hour race in 2005,” said the 71-year-old. “I am tempted, of course and I’m certainly crazy enough. I still love the sport but I have to be realistic and say that it might be too much, but who knows… Michael has the team so if he is interested in doing it, I think he could come up with another car. This is the last race with the current chassis and engines so it would be very cheap for any would-be-entrant to get the pieces together and make up a team to challenge for the $5m pot. I think it’s going to be incredible and I think we will definitely see some good talent there.”
Makes Michael Schumacher seem like a real Spring chicken…
joeblogsf1 
Mark Blundell is looking at it. With his return to racing this year, the cobwebs are getting blown off. And let’s face it, he is not much older than Schumi…..
Ah Mario, when will you learn to call it a day ??
Last time you has a go in one of your sons cars, you made a big crease on the back straight with your head…enough already !
Joe,
I love Mario Andretti, but even I think it might be a bit late in the day. We must not forget that will potentially be a Championship decider should it go down to the wire again – there could be a whole lot at stake.
Also I thought even Mario said he would tempt an IndyCar after his backflip at Indy a few years ago.
Surely after having survived so long in the more dangerous years, and with his near miss last time he got in the car he knows better.
Or is he quietly playing along as part of the hype for the event?
But if Mario’s considering it, surely former team-mate ‘Our Nige’ must be seriously wondering about it too.
Anyone up for a ‘Top 5 most off the wall suggestions’ thread here?
Great story!
Oh yes!
Please Mario, do it.
Just do it.
Show those children how it’s done.
That is a really really bad idea, Mario should know that racing at Le Mans is very different to a powerfull single seater. I hope he doesn’t do it, he would be a danger to the other competitors.
Good old Mario!
Frankly I get confused by the racing in the colonies! 😉
Indycar, is that the one that looks like very old F1 cars, but much heavier and with no electronics?
Or is that CART? if not, what is CART, CANAM? etc Do they have F1 stocks (as per the UK version with Chevy engines and girders) or is it restricted to Nascar ie the BTCC with banking and less contact?
I thought that Mario had been “tapped on the shoulder” back when he had his loop during practice/testing at Indy?
There is nothing like an ignored race car driver when he’s getting old.
The smell of the crowd, the roar of the greasepaint, or words to that effect!
The back flip at Indy a few years ago was not driver error, but rather from a piece of a car that had just crashed ahead of him. Apparently his times were quite competitive prior to that. But we’ll see. Mario will know what’s best and I trust his judgment either way.
I did get a kick out of the Schumi – spring chicken analogy! 😀
Bloody Hell! Tony Dowe!
How are you mate? Last time I saw you you were in Surbiton, screwing Villiers two-strokes together. Bailey’s the name, mates with Purssey, Murray and Collins.
If we’re going with an “oldies” theme, then why not Fittipaldi, Mears, and the Unser brothers, too? I’d actually rather see this than the current generation of Indy drivers. Actually, I can’t name any except Dario Franchitti and Danica Patrick.
I think the whole thing is a (very successful) publicity stunt. Indycar know that there is very little chance that they will end up paying out the $5m. It would be very difficult for anyone to stroll into an indycar and go faster than Franchiti, Andretti Jnr Jnr and the rest. These drivers know the cars inside out and have huge set up knowledge to fall back on. If you put Alonso Vettel and Hamilton in the race they would struggle to be competitive purely because of a lack of experience in that series and in those cars.
Pretty much every driver mentioned above is far far too old.
Please please let Andretti Sr do this and win. Then get the BBC to hire him to do post race interviews, stationed in the Mercedes pit 🙂
Don’t get me wrong, i was a huge MS fan when he had to chase hard, and enjoy it a lot when he’s on a charge. But Mario is hands down cooler.
Even if this is hype, it’s enjoyable hype.
I’d not known Mario Andretti stars in a IMAX movie called Super Speedway. Of course, it’s not played in any IMAX theater over here. That’s silly, but also an opportunity for someone to call the BFI and twist their arms for a promotional screening. BFI used to allow members to gang up for “private” screenings. So far, the only negative review i can find, confuses Indycar with F1!
all best,
– j
If there is one person whom I adore along with those multiple F1 champions like Senna, Prost, Stewart, Clark, Schumacher and Alonso, it is Mario Andretti – simply because of his hunger to race, whatever be the car, the series of even his age. Midgets, sprint cars, USAC single-seaters, IndyCars, Formula 1, NASCAR, sports prototypes…he’s done it all and won too.
However, this may be a bit too much but perhaps Mario may surprise us again.
Get JPM in-he’ll win it, no problem!!
Onyx
If they have grease and a shoehorn that might work. JPM has been to McDonald a few times since he left F1….
Hmmm!
A ‘Super Mario Kart’ final IndyCar round in Las Vegas eh?
Mario Andretti would represent the red-tortoise shells for the rest of the IndyCar racers in that context, then.
I expect the $5 million is safe from MA.
Can’t be sure of the same for IndyCar series competitors!
JF
Mario was way past his prime at Le Mans in 2000. Please say no, Mario.
Last year Marco expressed his interest in the 24 Hours of Le Mans sharing a car with his father and grandfather. He said Michael wasn’t really keen on the idea but Mario would jump in the cockpit from a wheelchair. You’ve got to admire his passion for racing, all forms of it.
I think Marco was quoted when the story came out that they would be dusting off a car for Mario. I think its just Mario going along with a good story and getting some publicity.
That said, at 71 I still think he could beat Marco on an oval.
The Indy ‘Blow-Over’ wasn’t Mario’s fault. He shocked the hell out of these guys, Michael foremost. I worked with this guy not long ago, and the Fire is absolutely still there. He lives for Racing, Mike lives to cash the cheques…
I am certain that he’d qualify as well as the car is capable. The uncertainty is the tension-factor and resultant fatigue that goes with racing ‘wheel within wheel’ for lap after lap as is the norm in the IRL. It’s a lot more manageable when you do it week after week..!
If Andretti Autosport finds the $$$ reasonably soon, it would be a thrill to spend 5 months debating your friends on the outcome….!
I guarantee that Mario would ‘Race’, not just compete. He’d ‘Send a Message’ for all the guys from his generation….!
Hmmm, well they say you’ve gotta be in it to win it but if Mario can wedge himself into the car at all I doubt he would do much more than make up the numbers. Same for Michael… and if he was serious he needs to lay off the cheeseburgers for a few months.
A couple of the F1 boys on the fringes like Hulkenberg, Grosjean & Liuzzi could give it a good shake but that’s about it for me. Hard to imagine a part-timer jumping in and being able to threaten the likes of Dixon, Franchitti, Power, Castroneves etc. straight from the off.
Another point about the potential of (ex) F1 drivers running this race is that the IndyCar Series is looking to promote not only the race, but also the Championship for US audiences.
As good as I’m sure the likes of Hulkenberg and Grosjean might be, I’m afraid painfully few in the States would have ever heard of them, virtually minimising any increase in potential viewer share.