The name Andretti is synonymous with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. From the time that Mario Andretti entered the Indianapolis 500 in 1964, there’s been an Andretti in the field of 33 for nearly every year the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race has run. That will change in 2026, as Marco Andretti, son of Michael and grandson of Mario hangs up his gloves.
Now 38, Marco found success in all of the feeder series to INDYCAR, including Barber Dodge, Star Mazda and Indy Pro Series (now INDY NXT). He began his INDYCAR career in 2006 at Andretti Green Racing; at that year’s Indy 500, Marco had the lead coming out of the final turn of the last lap, only to be overtaken by eventual race winner Sam Hornish. He would earn Rookie of the Race that year at age 19. Marco had taken the seat of Dan Wheldon in 2006 and continued full-time with Andretti Green Racing as it became Andretti Autosport and then Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian. His final full-season came in 2020, before becoming an Indy-only driver.
While he never came that close to winning the 500 again (he was third three times), Andretti did secure pole position in 2020. That was obviously a strange race, held in August due to COVID-19 strictures and held without any spectators. Still, the achievement was one no one could take from him.
Like his grandfather Mario, Marco Andretti didn’t drive only open-wheel Indy cars; he competed in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, in the A1 Grand Prix, raced once at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2010 with Rebellion Racing in LMP2), Formula E, in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series, as well as ARCA Menards Series. He earned the 2022 Superstar Racing Experience Championship in that series’ second year; he raced all three seasons on SRX.
“To my family, friends, teams, sponsors and fans who have supported me for the last 30 years in motorsports,” Marco said in his retirement announcement, “I want to thank you for allowing me the privilege to continue our family’s passion on the racetrack. I have had some really fun times behind the wheel in a lot of different types of racing cars – a lot of great memories as well, mostly at the Indy 500. Today,” he continued, “I am announcing my retirement from motor racing and the Indianapolis 500. That totals 20 starts at the Speedway, which I feel so fortunate to be able to say. That is ranked 12th all-time. Not bad for a 38-year-old.”
Thus ends 60 years of racing at Indy for the Andretti family, but Marco Andretti is fairly confident this isn’t the end of the road for the family. “I am proud of my overall stats at the Indy 500,” he stated. “I had six very legitimate shots at victory with Andretti Autosport and ended up with 20 percent top three finishes sat the Speedway. It feels accomplishing to me to be able to retire having more podium finishes than my father Michael and the same as my grandfather Mario, at the biggest race in the world.
“I will never forget the rare circumstance of getting to race my dad in the closing laps for the win there – the pressure of participating in a dramatic Bump Day in 2011 to a pole position in 2020. That is what the Indianapolis 500 produces: extremes on both ends. That is why I love and appreciate it so much. I am very much at peace with the next chapter in my life after dedicating three decades to the sport. I will be prioritizing most of my time on being a great father to my daughter, Miura, and tending to my other business ventures.”
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