Sports

Number9Dream

(1,869 posts) Fri Feb 27, 2026, 05:09 PM 14 hrs ago

Born February 28, 1940 - Mario Andretti - American racing driver

Mr. Andretti was named Driver of the Century by the Associated Press (1999) and RACER magazine (2000). In 1992, he was voted the U.S. Driver of the Quarter Century by a panel of journalists and former U.S. Drivers of the Year. He was named the U.S. Driver of the Year in 1967, 1978, and 1984, and is the only driver to be Driver of the Year in three decades.

Mr. Andretti has been inducted into a variety of motorsports hall of fames, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Mr. Andretti continues to reside in Nazareth, PA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Andretti

5 replies

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Born February 28, 1940 - Mario Andretti - American racing driver (Original Post) Number9Dream 14 hrs ago OP

The Naz Clouds Passing 13 hrs ago #1

From the Wikipedia page: House of Roberts 13 hrs ago #2

He has always been a driver I had great respect for. OldBaldy1701E 12 hrs ago #3

What was it called 'at the time'? House of Roberts 8 hrs ago #5

One of the greats. His grandson, not so much. ms liberty 12 hrs ago #4

Clouds Passing

(7,710 posts)

1. The Naz

Reply to Number9Dream (Original post)

Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:00 PM

13 hrs ago

House of Roberts

(6,462 posts)

2. From the Wikipedia page:

Reply to Number9Dream (Original post)

Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:11 PM

13 hrs ago

On October 23, 2006, the Italian government made Andretti a Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI), the most senior Italian order of merit, in honor of Andretti's racing career and commitment to his Italian heritage

What the link doesn't mention is that only one other motorsports personality holds that honor, one Enzo Ferrari. That alone should tell you how highly Mario Andretti is thought of in his country of birth.