The Andretti Curse, sometimes referred to as Andretti Luck, is a sports-related curse in a string of bad luck the Andretti racing family has experienced in their efforts to win the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Patriarch Mario Andretti won the Indianapolis 500 in 1969. In victory lane, prolific car owner Andy Granatelli planted a kiss on the young Andretti's cheek. Following the win, despite a Hall of Fame career in Indy cars, Formula One, stock cars, and sports cars, Andretti never managed to win the race again before his retirement in 1994. The misfortune has extended to his sons Michael and Jeff, nephew John, and grandson Marco, totalling 78 starts. The reasons for defeat have included a bevy of mechanical failures, crashes, and a last-lap pass in 2006.
According to Robin Miller, the curse started in 1970 when Mario Andretti, Andy Granatelli, and Clint Brawner were involved in feud over the team. Partners Granatelli and Brawner split, and Andretti sided with Granatelli.[1] Brawner's wife Kay supposedly cast a hex upon them, promising never would an Andretti ever again win the Indianapolis 500.[2][3]
Success has not completely eluded the Andretti family. Michael Andretti broke Kay Brawner's spell, having won the Indianapolis 500 five times, as a car owner of Andretti Autosport. The racing team, formerly known as Team Green also won the race in 1995, prior to Andretti's involvement. Mario, Michael, Jeff, and Marco were all winners of the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award. Marco, meanwhile, is the only family member besides Mario to win a race of any kind at the Speedway, the Liberty Challenge for the Infiniti Pro Series on the combined road course at the Speedway in 2005.
^Glick, Shav (April 9, 1994). "Mario's Finish Line : Phoenix Is Very Special in Andretti's Final Season and Crew Chief McGee Has Been a Big Part of His Career". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
^Heroes of the 500 - Beyond the Bricks. 2015. WFNI.
^Miller, Robin (August 22, 2020). "MILLER: The 'Andretti Curse'". Racer.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
The AndrettiCurse, sometimes referred to as Andretti Luck, is a sports-related curse in a string of bad luck the Andretti racing family has experienced...
Mario Gabriele Andretti (born February 28, 1940) is an American former racing driver. He is widely regarded among the most successful drivers in the history...
an owner Walkinshaw Andretti United, an Australian motor racing team, of which Michael Andretti is a shareholder Andretticurse, a folk belief in a string...
Enterprises. Unfortunately, he became yet another victim of the infamous AndrettiCurse at the famed race track when on lap 109, a right rear wheel came loose...
Michael Mario Andretti (born October 5, 1962) is an American former racing driver, and current team owner. Statistically one of the most successful drivers...
deal with Andretti". RACER. Retrieved September 26, 2023. Benyon, Jack (August 23, 2023). "Ericsson to leave Ganassi for IndyCar rival Andretti". The Race...
in the third event, such as Ken Miles (1966 24 Hours of Le Mans), Mario Andretti (Le Mans 1995) and Allan McNish (Daytona 2012). In the period of 1971–1989...
a driver (contributing to the perception of the so-called Andretti Curse), Andretti finally achieved victory at Indianapolis as an owner. Rookie Danica...
Castroneves repeated with a win in 2002. By 2003, Ganassi, Penske and Andretti Green defected to the IRL permanently. CART went bankrupt later in the...
history. Bobby Unser took the checkered flag as the winner, with Mario Andretti finishing second. After the conclusion of the race, USAC officials ruled...
permitted his to complete the test during the full-field session. Marco Andretti turned the fastest lap in the rookie/refresher session at 221.569 mph (356...
Penske and replaced by Al Unser for 1983. Mario Andretti's misfortune strengthened the perceived Andretticurse at Indy. Despite the historic battle at the...
The Andretti Family's misfortunes during the race reflected back to the AndrettiCurse. Jeff Andretti's devastating leg injuries, Mario Andretti's foot...
America, Mid-Ohio, and Laguna Seca. Many racing stars, including Mario Andretti, Bobby Rahal, and Danny Sullivan found success in CART, which by the mid-1980s...
video game Indianapolis 500 Evolution. He also appeared in the video game Andretti Racing on the PS1. His most recent work can be heard in the trailer for...
would be the final competitive drives at Indy for both Mario Andretti and Al Unser Sr. Andretti led the most laps, and finished in fifth place. Unser also...
had produced only seven winners at that time), a reflection of the Andretticurse. Montoya broke a thirty-year streak of losses by the second starting...
a broken valve spring. The misfortune reinforced the perceived AndrettiCurse. Andretti coasted around to the pit area, and the team immediately replaced...
the race was the impending retirement of popular veteran Michael Andretti. Andretti announced that the 2003 Indy 500 would be his final race, and that...
Indianapolis Sports in Indianapolis Little 500 (cycling) Lore Riding mechanic AndrettiCurse Borg-Warner Trophy Indy/Charlotte "Double Duty" Entertainment Traditions...
and 2017) since patriarch Mario Andretti's sole win in 1969, extending what is popularly called the "AndrettiCurse" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...
prevailing superstitions in the modern day include the ongoing "Andretticurse" and "Curse of the Smiths" (see below). Older superstitions that have been...
Indianapolis Sports in Indianapolis Little 500 (cycling) Lore Riding mechanic AndrettiCurse Borg-Warner Trophy Indy/Charlotte "Double Duty" Entertainment Traditions...
and led as late as 13 laps to go, but failed to win, adding to the AndrettiCurse. The race's 75th Running was highly publicized, and the event was advertised...
Mario Andretti considered the 1985 race his "best chance to win," and his subsequent failure added to the Andretticurse. A disappointed Andretti refused...
Indianapolis Sports in Indianapolis Little 500 (cycling) Lore Riding mechanic AndrettiCurse Borg-Warner Trophy Indy/Charlotte "Double Duty" Entertainment Traditions...
Global Information