There is perhaps no name more synonymous with auto racing than that of Mario Andretti. The 84-year-old racing legend boasts accolades most drivers couldn’t dream of if they lived multiple lifetimes, and his influence on pop culture is still felt throughout the world today—just ask Alan Jackson, Ice Cube, Amy Grant and the Beastie Boys, who are just a few of the artists that have incorporated his name into their music. 

In an interview in September of 2023, Andretti reflected on his racing career, which had rather humble beginnings. “My interest (in auto racing) started when I was a young teenager – when my reasoning started,” Andretti joked, recalling his childhood fascination with the sport. “I was still living in Italy, and my twin brother (Aldo Andretti) and I gravitated towards the sport because it was so prominent in Italy.