Legend's Cars Also On Display This Week In Big Apple
By Paul Kelly
indy500.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
1969 Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti will serve as grand marshal of the 60th Columbus Day Parade on Monday, Oct. 11 in New York.
The parade takes place from approximately 11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fifth Avenue between 44th and 76th streets in Manhattan. Past Columbus Day Parade grand marshals have included baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, singer Frank Sinatra, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, actress Sophia Loren, singer Luciano Pavarotti and business titan Lee Iacocca.
"I am thrilled and honored to be the grand marshal of the 2004 Columbus Day Parade in New York City," Andretti said. "The Parade is a celebration of accomplishments and of Italian-American contributions to the United States. I look forward to joining this great event and sharing my passion for automotive excellence and design and my love for Italy and America."
Italian native Andretti is one of the greatest drivers of all time. He won the Formula One World Championship in 1978, the Champ Car national title in 1965, 1966, 1969 and 1984, the USAC National Dirt Track Championship in 1974, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1967, 1970 and 1972, and the Daytona 500 in 1967.
Andretti also produced a legendary record in 29 starts at Indianapolis, second on the all-time list, between 1965-94. Besides his victory in 1969, he won the pole in 1966, 1967 and 1987. He also led 556 laps at Indy, third all-time, and is tied for second all-time by leading in 11 of his Indy starts.
Parade viewers can expect a stunning display of historic race cars, new and vintage sports cars and historic race motorcycles. Race cars on display from Andretti's stellar career include a replica of the STP Oil Treatment Brawner-Hawk that Andretti drove to victory in 1969 at Indianapolis, the Lola that he drove at Indy and to the Champ Car national title in 1984, a replica of the Holman-Moody Ford Fairlane that he drove while winning the 1967 Daytona 500 and the Gapco USAC Sprint car in which he earned his first major USAC victory in 1964.
Some of Andretti's race cars are exhibited in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall this week. The exhibition features the Newman/Haas Champ Car, the Brawner-Hawk and a 1976 Alfa-Romeo T33-120. The exhibition also features larger-than-life still photographs and a continuously run video about Andretti's life. Storyboards will recount his early years in Italy, his family's immigration to the United States and some of his 111 racing victories. ***
2005 tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for the 89th Indianapolis 500, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
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