Mario Andretti is one man who embodies the spirit of racing to the fullest, being the only driver in the history of auto racing to win Indy 500, the Daytona 500, and the Formula One championship. However, it is not just his racing shenanigans that would catch fans’ attention as the icon detailed an escapade with his close friend and racer Bobby Unser, revisiting the time when the duo barely escaped jail time in Italy. Taking to X to reveal the best moments of the podcast from 2023, Dirty Mo Media shared a snippet of the icon’s interview which debuted at No. 6 on the list!

Mario Andretti revisits the indelible memories of escaping the Carabinieri

Touted as one of the most influential and successful names in motorsport, Mario Andretti’s journey to the zenith is the stuff of legends. The veteran has established himself as a consummate legend of the sport, a professional team owner, and a pioneer of auto racing. But with the adrenaline rush and the exhilaration that comes as byproducts of professional racing, emotions and drama are bound to pour out. Speaking on the Dirty Mo Media podcast, Andretti detailed his wild days with his buddy and former IndyCar driver, Bobby Unser.

The media house recently shared the video, where the host asked, “I heard there’s a story where you and Bobby were stopped by security going into the track. Yes, well what was the story?” Laughing while reminiscing about the incident, the 83-year-old revealed “We didn’t have our credentials with us you know, even though a mechanic picked us up at the airport and in fact, we had to pluck him out of the seat because he wasn’t fast enough.” 

Picking the driver off from the seat, Unser asked Andretti to drive it until they reached the military, waiting for them on their way to the track. He further added, “So we get there and carabinieri which is the military actually – or the ones you have to go through there – you have to have credentials and I go there and nothing and Bobby said, ‘Dont go! Dont go!’ I said, ‘The guy’s got his hand on his gun!’ So, fortunately, I could speak Italian you know? But they got us. But they didn’t put us in jail.” 

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The hilarious story induced some laughs from the host, who joked, “That had to be a stressful start to the day,” to which Andretti quipped how the incident was nothing new and was pretty typical.

While the stories of the past are always a delight to think about, Andretti’s present indulgences are also equally exciting. The iconic veteran’s recent foray into the world of F1 is something fans and critics are waiting for, with bated breath. And the man of the h0ur himself talked about this exciting venture!

Andretti relays his delight after FIA’s decision

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Earlier this year, the legendary racer announced his team’s decision to enter F1, partnering with General Motors, Cadillac. The contract fell through despite the widespread backlash from existing teams like Ferarri and Williams, highlighting how the entry of a new team will affect the overall revenue and financial dynamics of the series.

According to GPblog, and their exclusive interview with him, Andretti relayed his joy at seeing everything falling into place for his team’s Formula One entry. “Absolutely very happy because they [Andretti-Cadillac] went through it, they checked every box, and they did everything that was asked of them. And that’s all you can do. But again, I think they’ve proven they’re here to stay. They have a long-term commitment,” said the 83-year-old.

He shared his joy to bring America’s biggest US manufacturer to Formula One. Andretti, “The FIA had a very rigorous process, which lasted almost eight months or so. There was a lot of stuff there to be able to guarantee. The team responded to every single request. For us to bring the biggest US manufacturer to Formula 1 for the very first time, that has to be something valuable from the standpoint of Formula 1 in my opinion.”

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