Political stuff…

Mario Andretti drives his Lotus 49 in the pit lane, under the watchful eye of Colin Chapman, during practice for the 1968 Italian Grand Prix held at Monza. It was his first outing in an F1 car and competitive he was, posting the fastest lap of the day.

He wasn’t allowed to race in the GP though, as he and Bobby Unser, who was supposed to race a BRM, had flown there straight from a race in the States. They were deemed unfit to race, since it was less than 24 hours after racing in the USA!

Unser recounted: “That was all political stuff, that crap they pulled on us in Monza. They let us fly all the way for nothing. And then we drove all the way to the airport like idiots…” 

However, both drivers got the chance to make their entry onto the F1 scene a few weeks later at Watkins Glen. Andretti made the most of the opportunity, snatching pole position and running second in the race, before being halted by mechanical issues.

Picture-below: Mario Andretti talking to Colin Chapman in the pit lane at his first ever drive in an F1 car. This was at Monza ahead of the 1968 Italian Grand Prix that should have been his first Grand Prix start.