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.