Mario’s ’69 Win was inspired by Mario Andretti’s winning of the 1969 Indianapolis 500. That May, already a F1 World Champion, anything but a smooth attempt. After a crash in his initial Colin Chapman Lotus, Mario ended up in the “Hawk”, a Clint Brawner-JIm McGee car, similar to the Chapman Lotus chassis, owned by Andy Granatelli.

The win is the sole victory at the Indianapolis 500 for both Mario and Andy.

The painting was featured at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museums tribute exhibit for Mario Andretti during the 2019 season.

At the exhibit’s grand opening, Mario shared stories about his career, his Indy 500 win, various cars on display. He later joined me for a photo with the painting in the background. Mario asked if I wanted him to autograph the painting, to which I replied, “Mario, I don’t ask for autographs. I’m part of the racing family. Just a photo with you is fine.” He and his assistant kept commenting on the painting, when after a couple of photos on each other’s phones he said, “That’s a hell of a painting! Get me a Sharpie!” His assistant handed him a Sharpie and he signed it. What a compliment.

Mario once told me he knew who Dad was, although he never competed with his (Dad retired about the time Andretti began open wheel racing).

A friend of mine’s wife saw the “block-in” stage of the painting and said I should have kept it just black and white. So, I created a second original in just black and white.