I read a lot of posts worrying about the lack of "name" drivers in
open wheel racing, I began wondering just what is a "name" driver.
Just for fun I picked the Mario Andretti and decided to see where he "came" from ---- boy I wish I had bet a dollar on him and let it ride in 1964.
Mario's first USAC Championship ride was at Trenton, April 14, 1964, he finished 11th, 8 laps behind the winner, a guy named Foyt.
Next it was Langhorne and out little Italian friend did better, he finished 8th and only 5 laps in back of the same guy.
Back to Treton for the second time and it was a bad day. Mario slipped to 11th again but this time he was 16 laps down on guess who?
Then Andretti thought he would try the dirt Springfield, it was 6th place finish but only 1 lap down on --- you guessed it.
Next day on to Milwaukee and the paved miled and Lady Fortune smiled on Mario, he finished 3rd, but still 4 aps down on some guy named Jones.
So it was back to the dirt, this time DuQuoin and Mario crashed on lap 43, his first championship dnf.
On to the Hoosier Hundred and a 10th place finish, but only 3 laps down to that Foyt guy again.
Back to Trenton for third time and Mario crashed on lap 54 watched as that Foyt guy had mechanical trouble and the Jones boy won again.
On the drit again, this time at Sacramento, and the best Andretti could do was an 8th place but only 1 lap behind the winner, oh not him again.
Mario"s season came to disappointing end in Phoenix when mechanical problems in his Dean Van Lines roadster sidelined hi on lap 29 and Lloyd Ruby came homw the winner.
I'll bet no one sitting in the grandstands at Phoenix that day would have bet a dime they just watched future World's Driving Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Daytona 500 winner and a guy whom would be named Co-Driver of The Century finish his
rookie year as a Championship driver.
Somewhere, maybe driving a CART race, an IRL race, a NASCAR race, an SCCA race, a sprint car or maybe a go cart some kid, with a burning desire may become the next Ruby, Jones Foyt or even Andretti.
open wheel racing, I began wondering just what is a "name" driver.
Just for fun I picked the Mario Andretti and decided to see where he "came" from ---- boy I wish I had bet a dollar on him and let it ride in 1964.
Mario's first USAC Championship ride was at Trenton, April 14, 1964, he finished 11th, 8 laps behind the winner, a guy named Foyt.
Next it was Langhorne and out little Italian friend did better, he finished 8th and only 5 laps in back of the same guy.
Back to Treton for the second time and it was a bad day. Mario slipped to 11th again but this time he was 16 laps down on guess who?
Then Andretti thought he would try the dirt Springfield, it was 6th place finish but only 1 lap down on --- you guessed it.
Next day on to Milwaukee and the paved miled and Lady Fortune smiled on Mario, he finished 3rd, but still 4 aps down on some guy named Jones.
So it was back to the dirt, this time DuQuoin and Mario crashed on lap 43, his first championship dnf.
On to the Hoosier Hundred and a 10th place finish, but only 3 laps down to that Foyt guy again.
Back to Trenton for third time and Mario crashed on lap 54 watched as that Foyt guy had mechanical trouble and the Jones boy won again.
On the drit again, this time at Sacramento, and the best Andretti could do was an 8th place but only 1 lap behind the winner, oh not him again.
Mario"s season came to disappointing end in Phoenix when mechanical problems in his Dean Van Lines roadster sidelined hi on lap 29 and Lloyd Ruby came homw the winner.
I'll bet no one sitting in the grandstands at Phoenix that day would have bet a dime they just watched future World's Driving Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Daytona 500 winner and a guy whom would be named Co-Driver of The Century finish his
rookie year as a Championship driver.
Somewhere, maybe driving a CART race, an IRL race, a NASCAR race, an SCCA race, a sprint car or maybe a go cart some kid, with a burning desire may become the next Ruby, Jones Foyt or even Andretti.
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