The annual go-kart race, now in its 23rd year, raises funds for the Riley Hospital for Children, a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. He translated his celebrity status into help for children in need by founding the Race4Riley in 1997. Outside of racing, Andretti’s legacy is also admirable and is marked by his focus on community service. During his noteworthy career, Andretti raced stock cars, Indy cars, touring cars, and dragsters and had regular top-ten finishes throughout his 20+ years of racing. In 1993, Andretti began racing stock cars in the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series, and it was during his NASCAR years that he became the first driver in racing history to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. He officially started his racing career in the mid-80s by competing in numerous racing series one of the highlights was his fifth-place finish in the 1991 Indianapolis 500. A Life and Career of ExcellenceĪndretti was born into the ‘royal family’ of auto racing his father, Aldo, and his uncle, Mario, already had established careers by the time he was born in 1963, and John got his start early through kart racing and junior stock cars. In addition to his own successful career, he was also nephew to racing legend Mario Andretti as well as son, sibling, and cousin to numerous other members of the famous Andretti family who are also known for their racing careers.

Andretti, aged 56, had a distinguished auto racing career that included wins in NASCAR and a variety of other racing series. The racing world was saddened to learn this past week that John Andretti tragically lost his three year battle with colon cancer.

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