Mario Andretti : A Driving Passion

Relentless determination, unrivaled charisma, and the ability to climb into any type of race car and win has made Mario Andretti a household name for more than thirty years. His accomplishments include four USAC and CART titles, the 1978 Formula One World Championship, winning the 1967 Daytona 500 and 1969 Indianapolis 500, and three victories in the grueling 12 Hours of Sebring sports-car race. Mario Andretti: A Driving Passion documents the toughness, intelligence, and humor that makes Mario the man so compelling and reveals the remarkable mixture of determination and luck-both good and bad-that defined his career as the most versatile and accomplished racer of all time. For the first time, his extraordinary life story is presented through exclusive interviews with Mario, his family, and the drivers and teams he raced with. In-depth descriptions of his greatest races and cars, combined with behind-the-scenes team photos and commentary by Mario himself, provide an insider's perspective on the progression of racing technology and the teamwork behind a winning effort. Author Gordon Kirby goes beyond the race track to explore Mario's early life in post-war Italy, his friendships with fellow drivers, team owners, engineers, and journalists, as well as his family's role in supporting and sustaining his career. Mario Andretti: A Driving Passion brings all of these elements together to create the definitive portrait of the man many regard as the driver of the century. Lavishly illustrated with the work of top racing photographers and memorabilia from Mario's own scrapbooks, the book includes pictures of nearly all of the 167 cars that helped build the Andretti legend. These include everything from his first homemade Hudson stock car to such milestone machines as Clint Brawner's Indy-winning Hawk and Colin Chapman's revolutionary ground-effect, Lotus 79.