Andretti IMAX Movie from 1997: Super Speedway

[STAND E]

Here's an awesome IMAX documentary of the Andrettis racing in the 1996 season.

Super Speedway view it here

Official page

Blu-ray on Amazon

Synopsis from the official page:

"Buckle up. Super Speedway delves into the death-defying drama of Indy car racing and weaves together the stories of some of the masters of the high-speed track. Super Speedway puts audiences in the cockpit of an Indy car and catapults them into world championship auto racing action at mind-bending speeds in excess of 230 miles per hour. At the core of the film’s action is Michael Andretti, taking on the challenge of testing a newly fabricated car and, ultimately driving it in hot pursuit of the championship in the PPG CART World Series. Michael’s struggle is seen in part through the eyes of his father, Mario, who participates in testing the new car and reflects on his own racing experiences and on the art, science and risk of high-speed competition. As a driving legend and as Michael Andretti’s father, Mario provides audiences with insight into the driver’s psyche, the balancing of risk and opportunity, and the unique relationship that exists between two generations of champions."

[Originality]

Took my family to Chicago for a day to see it when it came out The Museum of Science and Industry had an exhibit of several vintage IndyCars from the 50's and 60's at the time, IIRC.

[STAND E]

While watching it I was reminiscing about getting to spend a whole day with Mario, Michael, and Marco in their garage at IMS while they were getting the car ready for Marco's first run there. Now I also happened to have been one of the few in the stands when Mario had his flip at Indy. So I had a chance to tell him what it was like in the stands as we all stood up waving to try to warn him to slow down after the crash in front of him and then seeing his car take off like an airplane for no apparent reason. There was a drunk guy in a white undershirt up by the fence howling at the track officials in his mind for not having warned Mario. I told him how my heart went fast for about two hours after it happened. So Mario just listened to my story and said Yeah and was as calm as he was the day it happened.

[Roadrage]

While watching it I was reminiscing about getting to spend a whole day with Mario, Michael, and Marco in their garage at IMS while they were getting the car ready for Marco's first run there. Now I also happened to have been one of the few in the stands when Mario had his flip at Indy. So I had a chance to tell him what it was like in the stands as we all stood up waving to try to warn him to slow down after the crash in front of him and then seeing his car take off like an airplane for no apparent reason. There was a drunk guy in a white undershirt up by the fence howling at the track officials in his mind for not having warned Mario. I told him how my heart went fast for about two hours after it happened. So Mario just listened to my story and said Yeah and was as calm as he was the day it happened.

I know Mario was driving the car intended for the injured TK, but prior to that flight I was sort of guessing/hoping Mario would continue to run and qualify for that year's 500 as a super-sub. But Dee Ann likely stepped in with a huge "aw hayeII naw you ain't!"

[Chris Paff]

I know Mario was driving the car intended for the injured TK, but prior to that flight I was sort of guessing/hoping Mario would continue to run and qualify for that year's 500 as a super-sub. But Dee Ann likely stepped in with a huge "aw hayeII naw you ain't!"

That would have been a huge story if Mario entered the 2003 Indy 500

[Pelican Joe]

They had a screening of this in Milwaukee maybe 15 years ago. Both Michael and RHR were in attendance. I don't remember how we got tickets, but we did.

[Eric Paddon]

Amazon has things screwed up so that some of the "reviews" for this are reviews for the Elvis movie "Speedway".

[dalz]

That would have been a huge story if Mario entered the 2003 Indy 500

In the video taken of him standing by the car after the accident, he's wearing a custom 7-Eleven suit to match the car. It sure wasn't TK's. You can't convince me that there weren't bigger plans that got abruptly canned that day.

As for Speedway, it was pretty entertaining. But I was amazed by the in-car video from the Homestead test session. That track sure didn't seemlike an oval. There was no flow to going around the turns. A 4-left-turn road coarse. No wonder nobody liked it back then.

[Chris Paff]

In the video taken of him standing by the car after the accident, he's wearing a custom 7-Eleven suit to match the car. It sure wasn't TK's. You can't convince me that there weren't bigger plans that got abruptly canned that day.

As for Speedway, it was pretty entertaining. But I was amazed by the in-car video from the Homestead test session. That track sure didn't seemlike an oval. There was no flow to going around the turns. A 4-left-turn road coarse. No wonder nobody liked it back then.

It was small version of IMS.. Too flat and tight

[Doctorindy]

In the video taken of him standing by the car after the accident, he's wearing a custom 7-Eleven suit to match the car. It sure wasn't TK's. You can't convince me that there weren't bigger plans that got abruptly canned that day.

Kanaan had broken his arm at Motegi. As it was said at the time, Michael decided to have Mario test the car, because they were planning on having Mario qualify the car on Pole Day....assuming Kanaan wasn't going to be cleared to drive yet. Back then, they still had two weeks of practice, so if Mario put the car in the field, TK could get in it during the second week of practice...then start the car on race day.

Michael could have hired anybody to test and qualify the car for TK...but Mario clearly created the most buzz...heck we still talk about it today. Furthermore, he already had to hire Robby Gordon to drive for Dario that year (who hurt himself in a motorcycle crash). So maybe he didn't want to have to hire a second sub, and Michael was still driving himself......"let's just have dad do it".

According to this, Mario was wearing Michael's 2003 uniform that day. But surely they would have wanted Mario to have his own 7-Eleven suit...especially if he was going to be practicing all during week 1, and pose for the qualifying pictures. But I really don't think they were planning on putting him in car for race day. 2003 was odd too, as there was a shortage of cars/engines. They may not have even had a car for him once TK healed up.

[Chris Paff]

2003 was odd too, as there was a shortage of cars/engines. They may not have even had a car for him once TK healed up.

The start of our new normal

[dalz]

Kanaan had broken his arm at Motegi. As it was said at the time, Michael decided to have Mario test the car, because they were planning on having Mario qualify the car on Pole Day....assuming Kanaan wasn't going to be cleared to drive yet. Back then, they still had two weeks of practice, so if Mario put the car in the field, TK could get in it during the second week of practice...then start the car on race day.

Michael could have hired anybody to test and qualify the car for TK...but Mario clearly created the most buzz...heck we still talk about it today. Furthermore, he already had to hire Robby Gordon to drive for Dario that year (who hurt himself in a motorcycle crash). So maybe he didn't want to have to hire a second sub, and Michael was still driving himself......"let's just have dad do it".

According to this, Mario was wearing Michael's 2003 uniform that day. But surely they would have wanted Mario to have his own 7-Eleven suit...especially if he was going to be practicing all during week 1, and pose for the qualifying pictures. But I really don't think they were planning on putting him in car for race day. 2003 was odd too, as there was a shortage of cars/engines. They may not have even had a car for him once TK healed up.

Alright, maybe I can be convinced. Still, it would've had to have been gut-wrenching for Mario to spend all week practicing, especially if he was fast, with the media going nuts, qualifing and then just stepping aside.

Also, that same week, Champcar was in a tiff with Road America and was in danger of losing the race, which at the time was unthinkable. Mario helped broker a deal between all involved parties to keep the race on. In recognition of his efforts, the race was named the Mario Andretti Grand Prix that year. The old man totally hijacked the racing world for a few days.