He earned his sole career INDYCAR victory, at Surfers Paradise in Australia, and finished an Indy 500 career-best fifth in the No. Andretti and Wollek also co-drove to victory later that season at Palm Beach, Florida, in the same Porsche, and Andretti ended up fifth in the IMSA standings that season as the highest-ranked Porsche driver.Īndretti’s best year of INDYCAR competition arguably came in 1991 while driving for Hall VDS Racing.
He still competed in sports cars while making a name for himself early in his INDYCAR career.Īndretti teamed with sports car legends Bob Wollek and Derek Bell to win the 1989 Rolex 24 At Daytona in one of the mighty Porsche 962 prototypes of the era. 98 Skoal Bandit Lola Cosworth before engine problems relegated him to a 21st-place finish. John Andretti made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1988 with Curb Racing. He was named series Rookie of the Year in 1987. That success helped launch Andretti into INDYCAR competition with Curb Racing in 1987, joining his uncle, Mario, and cousin Michael.
He found Victory Lane almost immediately in IMSA sports car racing, winning a race with co-driver and eventual fellow Indy 500 veteran Davy Jones in September 1986 at Watkins Glen. He began his professional full-time driving career after graduating from Moravian College in his hometown in 1985. John Andretti started his racing career in karting and won the USAC Speedrome Regional Midget series title in 1983, at age 20. His career included 12 starts in the Indianapolis 500 and 11 starts in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.īut his tireless, selfless work on behalf of various charities, even after his cancer diagnosis became public in April 2017, earned him even more respect and loyalty from a legion of worldwide admirers than his significant talent behind the wheel.Īndretti was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of race driver Aldo Andretti and nephew of 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner and 1978 Formula One World Champion Mario Andretti. He also competed in top-level drag racing and short-track open-wheel racing. He was 56.Īndretti, a member of the famed Andretti racing family, drove and won at the highest levels of North American motorsports in Indy cars, stock cars and sports cars. 30 after a long, courageous battle with colon cancer.
John Andretti, one of the most popular and versatile American race drivers of his generation, died Thursday, Jan. Janu| By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Popular INDYCAR, Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 Veteran John Andretti Dies at 56
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