ANDRETTI, SET, GO!

Racing Legend Mario Andretti Visits the Valley.

By Andrew Marden
VSP Senior Writer:

REEDLEY, Calif – He’s 59 years old and has been retired since 1994.

But he’s still Mario Andretti.

And that’s why people in Reedley were wrapped around I Street Thursday, waiting to get his autograph.

“That’s my son, 25 years ago, getting Mario’s autograph,” smiled one woman in line, pointing to a picture she was carrying.

She also proudly showed off a bronze belt buckle, featuring a much-younger Andretti and the words, ‘1978 World Champion.’

“I’m just enjoying today tremendously,” said Andretti, a four-time Indy Car national champion and arguably the greatest race car driver of all time. “It’s a wonderful thing, because fans have always been a very important part of my career.”

Andretti’s career spanned decades, landed him in five separate halls of fame and the Associated Press title, “Driver of the Century.”

“I definitely miss it,” he said. “It was a hell of a ride.”

Though he is undeniably retired, (”Get back in the car? I don’t think so,” smiled Andretti), he still makes public appearances; hence the reason for the Thursday visit to Reedley.

“I’m here on behalf of Firestone and we’re celebrating Lee’s Performance Tire…60 years in the business,” said Andretti. “(It’s) been extremely hospitable here so I’m having a ball.”

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