Racing Legend Mario Andretti Shares Stories from the Finish Line
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Description
Mario Andretti is a racing icon. He’s won the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and a Formula One World Championship—a feat no other racecar driver has achieved. He’s taken the...
show moreJohn Gamauf (aka Johnny g) first met Mario in the mid-90s at an IndyCar race. Their friendship solidified when they traveled across the country visiting dealers during the Ford-Firestone recall. Mario had just signed on as a Firestone spokesman, and Johnny g served as president of consumer tires in North American for the company. From this, they formed a bond that has lasted for 21 years.
In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, hear about Mario’s humble beginnings in racing, how he’s impacted the evolution of tire technology and why he stood up for the Firestone brand during a tumultuous time. Johnny g & Mario also discuss:
- Returning to his hometown in Italy to shoot “Drive Like Andretti” and the memories he has as a young Italian refugee and young immigrant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania
- The evolution of technology in racing from when Mario started to now and what it takes for drivers to extract what they need from the vehicle
- The Ford-Firestone recall and why Mario became a spokesperson and “put his name on the line” for the Firestone brand during that time
- Mario’s reflections on being a test driver for Firestone and the improvements in race tire technology he’s experienced along the way
- Mario’s greatest stories from racing with his son, Michael, and how he and his twin brother, Aldo, have created a family of professional racecar drivers
- Mario’s “Father’s Day gift” from his son at one of the closest races in IndyCar history
- Mario’s reflections on the impact of his career and being named to the “Living Legends” list in the Library of Congress
- Where Mario’s intense drive to succeed comes from and his formula for creating a great team on and off the racetrack
- Why, to this day, Mario still loves the sound of opera over the sound of an engine
- Mario’s dream guests to a dinner party and why it includes Lady Gaga and Mikhail Gorbachev
- Mario’s memories and funny stories of working with Paul Newman as a driver for Newman/Haas Racing
Watch the full episode at tirereview.com or on Tire Review magazine's YouTube channel.
Tire Review: https://www.tirereview.com/tag/johnny-g-friends/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUswYJsDNu5h8U6wSk29U4A
Look for more episodes of Johnny g & Friends the first Tuesday of every month on tirereview.com.
Information
Author | Babcox Media |
Organization | Babcox Media |
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