Can Marco Break the 55-Year-Old ‘Andretti Curse’ at Indy 500 on his 19th Attempt in 2024?

For over 16 years, Marco Andretti has been chasing his tail around the same old track, yet victory has always slipped through his fingers. It’s like he’s been jinxed, caught up in the so-called Andretti Curse that’s haunted the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since ’69, racking up a whopping 78 starts without a win in sight. But Andretti’s not one to throw in the towel is dusting off his racing gloves to take another crack at breaking this spell.

With a track record of four podium finishes, a top-ten tally that hits eight, and the honor of being the 2006 Rookie of the Year under his belt, Marco Andretti is no stranger to the rush of the race. This time, he’s back in the saddle of the #98 MAPEI/CURB Honda, revving up for his 19th shot at glory in the 108th Indianapolis 500. The rumor is all about whether this run, announced by Andretti Global, could be the charm that finally lifts the curse or not.

Dale Earnhardt Jr was recently caught off guard by the tale of the ‘Andretti Curse’ 

In a video shared by Indycar on NBC, Dale Earnhardt Jr found himself chatting with Marco Andretti, who’s gearing up for his 19th attempt to shake off a family jinx. Junior was all ears, saying, “I wasn’t aware of this, but I guess there’s the Andretti curse.” Marco, nodding in agreement, responded, “Yes, there’s there’s a lot of wins that we’ve let go of his family. The near misses. But at the same time just had to keep coming back, keep swinging, as long as you’re competitive.”

The origin of this so-called curse dates back to 1970. A rift between Mario Andretti, Andy Granatelli, and Clint Brawner split the team, and supposedly, Brawner’s wife Kay put a hex on them, swearing no Andretti would win the Indianapolis 500 again.

Fast forward, and here’s Marco Andretti, four years after his last pole position at Indy, throwing his hat into the ring for the 108th Indianapolis 500. Helio Castroneves will be seen switching gears to a more focused schedule with Meyer Shank Racing, and Christian Rasmussen is going to be one of five rookies to watch, joining in with Ed Carpenter Racing.

Even Marco Andretti, who once shrugged off the curse in 2020, said, “We don’t believe in it as a family. We’ve been really blessed around here and we are unscathed as far as being in race cars. This is a dangerous thing we do and we are all healthy. It’s hard to say we’re cursed. This place can bury your confidence and it can also make you,” seems to have a change of mind.

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However, the excitement isn’t just about breaking curses. Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman of Andretti Global, is thrilled to bring MAPEI into the racing world, giving them their first taste of the NTT IndyCar Series. And let’s not forget the Hendrick Motorsport fans, who are sure to flock to the track, eager to cheer on their favorite #5 driver.

Double Duty vs. ‘Andretti Curse’ showdown at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Kyle Larson is gearing up for a marathon Double Duty run, tackling both the Indycar Series race and the iconic Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. The feat hasn’t been attempted in nine years since Kurt Busch gave it a go in 2014. In fact, to smooth the path a bit for Larson, NASCAR, and Hendrick Motorsports have bent the rules a bit. They’re letting him skip the mandatory team meeting before the Coca-Cola 600 since he’ll be starting from the back anyway.

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But Larson’s not going to be the only showstopper. Marco Andretti is also on his mission to put an end to a 55-year-old family curse. The blend of Larson’s double-duty challenge and Andretti’s quest to rewrite history is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats this May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stay tuned for more updates on the same.