![]() And then the way the team and the pit crews and everybody performed all week, it was just fantastic,” France said. “That was thousands of hours of hard work by hundreds of people that went into making this thing happen. “The last thing we were going to do was come here and fall on our nose.” “I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Rick Hendrick told The Associated Press. To complete the family dream, France wanted to ensure he had the partners to put forth a top-notch effort that wouldn’t embarrass the racing series that got its start racing on the sand in Daytona Beach, Florida, and found that North Carolina moonshine runners were its earliest stars. ![]() His father twice brought NASCAR to Le Mans but failed to come close to finishing the race. It was a passion project for France, who first attended Le Mans in 1962 with his father, the late NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. The picture years in the making □ /eTQT1xlD3f He then recruited Rick Hendrick, Chevrolet and Goodyear – the winningest team, manufacturer and tire in NASCAR’s 75-year history – to collaborate on the project. Jim France, owner of both NASCAR and IMSA, had brokered this deal to get NASCAR’s second-year Next Gen stock car into the race as part of Le Mans’ “Innovative Car” class that showcases technology. “How’s it feel to take the checkered flag at Le Mans?” team owner Rick Hendrick radioed seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson as he completed the 285th lap for the Camaro around the Circuit de la Sarthe.Īnticipation had built all week for the car dubbed “Le Monster,” in part because it was so different than the rest in the 62-car field, its V8 engine had a distinct rumble that drowned out the competition, and because few had any expectations for the NASCAR entry. 24 Chevrolet Camaro wasn’t going to win the most prestigious endurance race in the world – the specialized “Garage 56” entry wasn’t eligible for any class victories – but simply completing a full 24 hours was good enough to declare NASCAR’s massive effort to return to Le Mans for the first time since 1976 a smashing success. LE MANS, France - They started lining up the champagne glasses inside the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR garage with 30 minutes remaining in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Always so positive and upbeat and raised an amazing side of our Andretti family. I have never heard him complain, a trait that he passed down to John. One of the toughest guys I have ever met. 12, at Stevens Mortuary in Indianapolis.Īldo Andretti, my loving twin brother, my partner in crime and my faithful best friend every day of my life was called to heaven last night. A family visitation will be held from 4-7:30 p.m. Malachy Catholic Church in Brownsburg, Indiana. Always so positive and upbeat and raised an amazing side of our Andretti family.”Īccording to the team, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon, Jan. Marco Andretti tweeted of his great uncle: “RIP uncle Aldo. Aldo Andretti in the pits before the Jrace at Daytona International Speedway (Brian Cleary/Getty Images).įrom the Andretti Autosport release: “Nothing mattered more to Aldo than family, and it brought him great pride to share his life with wife and high-school sweetheart Corky and their five children Carolyn, Mark, John, Mary Jo and Adam.” John Andretti, a versatile winner in NASCAR, Ind圜ar, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and NHRA, died of colon cancer in January. Aldo Andretti (hand on helmet) helps congratulated USAC Sprint feature winner Bruce Walkup after a Jrace at Dayton Speedway (Alvis Upitis/Getty Images). He often attended races to support his son John and many other family members who raced. Though Aldo Andretti’s driving career was cut short by a crash, he retained his passion for motorsports. The Andretti twins soon began racing and winning on dirt ovals near their home in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Indianapolis Motor Speedway December 31, 2020 Their father arrived in the country with $125 and a promise to stay for at least five years.Īldo brought a laugh and a smile to everyone’s face. I’m shaken to my core.”Īldo and Mario were born in Montona, Italy, and spent several years in a Tuscany refugee camp before immigrating with their family to the United States in 1955. In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Mario Andretti wrote that “Aldo Andretti, my loving twin brother, my partner in crime and my faithful best friend every day of my life was called to heaven last night. The Ind圜ar team said Aldo Andretti “passed peacefully with a heart full of love and spirit.” Aldo Andretti, the twin brother of auto racing legend Mario Andretti and father of the late John Andretti, died Wednesday night at 80, according to a release from Andretti Autosport.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |