EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Exclusive: 6 full throttle questions for racing legend, Mario Andretti

Trey Campbell
Sep 10, 2020, 10:51 am
Photo via: Wiki Commons.

Today I was lucky enough to talk to Mario Andretti, a living legend in auto racing. He has won over 100 races including an Indy 500 in 1969 and a Daytona 500 in 1967. Mario could not have been more kind as we talked about where IndyCar is today and what some plans are moving forward including the recent addition of Jimmie Johnson as it was announced Wednesday that he would drive for Chip Ganassi racing in the IndyCar.

SportsMap: I am joined here today by in my opinion the greatest race car driver who has ever lived, Mr. Mario Andretti. Mario, thank you so much for joining me here today.

Mario Andretti: My pleasure, Trey. Thank you for having me.

SM: So right off the bat as we all know, IndyCar is under new management. How would you rate the job that Roger Penske has done so far in his first season?

MA: Triple A! We're so fortunate that he has [taken] on the reigns of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis during these difficult times, and we have all the confidence in the world that we will get right through this, and we look forward to a better and more prosperous 2021. But to answer your question, we're all thrilled that he's at the helm of the series and Indy. He has made so many improvements to the speedway, and he did all this knowing that the race wouldn't be [run] with fans, so he has done terrific.

SM: You mentioned earlier that he has made many improvements to the speedway, what sort of improvements have you seen that make it more accessible for the fans when they are able to return next year?

MA: Just the accessibility to the fans has been incredible. They have paved a lot of the parking lots, lots of accessibility to the tower, the restrooms are much cleaner and it's only the beginning. He is planning to add at least 20 big screens to the track so the fans can see every inch of the track.

SM: How do you like the racing we are seeing with today's cars? I know they are a lot more spec than they were when you raced. Do you like the product we are seeing on the track?

MA: I think a lot of the racing we see on the ovals and the road courses have put a lot on the drivers themselves because everything is so close together, we see a lot of races that are won and loss in the pits more than ever. So it's kind of become more a team sport as well.

SM: What is your opinion on the new windscreen that IndyCar has unveiled this season to try and protect these drivers?

MA: Well I think there are a lot of benefits to it, but there are also a lot of possible drawbacks as well. They have a lot of work to do, and they haven't had a lot of time with this abbreviated season. And they are working on the ventilation with the heat and everything but when it comes to safety, I am all for it.

SM: It was announced today that Jimmie Johnson would be joining the IndyCar Series next season. How do you think his success will translate over to IndyCar?

MA: First of all, this is wonderful news by the way, and you can see that Jimmie has a lot to give to the sport. He has an enviable record in NASCAR, and then he's young enough that he wants to expand and that's beautiful for the sport. It's a win-win for everyone, motorsports wins and now that he will be going with a team like Chip Ganassi Racing, I think he can be a force to be reckoned with. I think he caught the bug when he did a test in an F1 car in Bahrain with Fernado Alonso so it will be fun to watch for sure.

If you would like to hear the entire interview, you can listen below.

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Texans Preseason

11 observations: Houston Texans Training Camp, Friday August 5th

1. Davis Mills had an up-and-down day under center Friday. One play saw Mills drop back and try to get rid of the ball as Jonathan Greenard was rushing him only to have Greenard leap up and intercept Mills for what would have been an interception returned for a score.

2. A few plays later Davis Mills showcased his short memory. Mills surveyed the field, looked off the safety, and pitched a strike to Brevin Jordan over the middle, wide open, for a touchdown.

3. Davis Mills doesn’t stack bad plays. It is rare to see multiple bad plays happen in a row and Mills be the cause, or a cause, of the play not working. When he misses something, he usually makes up for it the next play.

4. It was a makeshift offensive line on Friday. Max Scharping played a lot at left guard. Charlie Heck saw some snaps at left tackle while Laremy Tunsil took a breather. Veteran lineman Cedric Ogbuehi played some at right tackle. There was plenty of work emphasized on the rushing attack Friday. The offensive line was fine, nothing special. I would say slight edge to the defense overall.

5. Rookie Kenyon Green didn’t practice. Right tackle Tytus Howard didn’t practice either. Pro Football Network is reporting Tytus Howard is out with a positive Covid test. Kenyon Green was banged up last practice, but Lovie Smith expects both back in the coming days.

6.The offensive line had its hands full with the defensive line today. Jonathan Greenard made the above-mentioned play of the practice with an interception. It felt constantly like there was some level of success from the defensive line. Not to say they dominated, but I would think the defense is happy with their day.

7. Maliek Collins has been a nice player in camp. He looks a bit quicker than last year. Collins downplayed how many “close” plays he had last year citing that everyone knows the saying “close but no cigar.” I asked him if he expected a lot of cigars this year. He chuckled and said yes. Teammate Roy Lopez gushed about what he believes Collins can be for this team and called his teammate one of the best defensive tackles in the league.

8. I almost wonder if quiet Derek Stingley days are good days. Stingley wasn’t involved in a lot of plays, but I know Davis Mills saw him on Friday. Mills dropped back on one play and made a read to his left seeing Chris Moore. Stingley darted from coverage towards Moore causing Mills to move off Moore and head to Nico Collins for a score. Yes, the defense allowed a touchdown, but Stingley did his job.

9. Rookie safety Jalen Pitre is a “starting” safety for the team according to Lovie Smith. Pitre had an interception, depending on who you ask, in practice. It is clear the Texans trust him and have put a lot on his plate. I would expect to see a lot of the rookie safety, good or bad, this season.



10. Lovie Smith praised the team’s depth at linebacker earlier in camp. I scoffed a little at the notion, but there seems to be a new linebacker making a play each day. Christian Kirksey had a nice stop in the run game today. Kevin Pierre-Louis, who played very little last year, has flashed. There’s some depth here, despite my skepticism.

11. Ka'imi Fairbairn doesn’t have a challenger in camp this year. I believed this offseason should have seen at the very least someone to challenge the kicker heading into his seventh year in the league. He’s been solid in camp so far, but there have been some misses. It is tough to judge distance, but the team clearly has faith in him with no challenger in sight.

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