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Mario Andretti: “My greatest rival”

15. Jan 2023 
by Ziv Knoll
5138 views

Mario Andretti and A.J.Foyt were IndyCar rivals (and in all the other forms of car racing in North-America as well) in the 1960s and ’70s, but their frosty relationship remained cool throughout their racing careers. Now both in their 80s, its time to look back and it’s fair to say A.J. was Mario’s greatest rival.

Mario Andretti reflects: “I’ve had so many great rivals but the one that lasted the longest was AJ Foyt. We fought really hard through two decades, never gave an inch, and there were a few scrapes along the way. There were some tensions between us outside the cockpit but on the track he was always correct.”

He continues: “When you win a race and your greatest rival is second, it’s a good day, and when you finish second to that great rival, it’s still a good day. That’s a healthy rivalry. AJ wasn’t friendly with me at tracks, but we had mutual respect for each other, and the days when you beat the best are the days you remember for ever.” 

Mario concludes: “Back then we were not friends, but now we are good friends, and every time I see AJ he says, ‘I can’t believe we’re still standing’ and I call him for his birthday and call him my ‘best friend forever’. How things change.”

Source: DR

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