Marco Andretti Announces Retirement After Three Decades in Motorsports
Marco Andretti, a prominent name in the motorsports world, has officially announced his retirement from competitive racing, concluding a remarkable career that spanned three decades. The announcement came via social media on the eve of his 38th birthday, marking the end of an era for the Andretti legacy in motorsports.
Andretti, the son of 1991 CART IndyCar Series champion Michael Andretti and grandson of racing legend Mario Andretti, made an immediate impact in junior open-wheel racing. He achieved numerous victories in the Star Mazda and Infiniti Pro Series before making his IndyCar Series debut in 2006, just 13 days after turning 19. He secured his first victory at Sonoma that season, earning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing seventh overall in the standings.
His career highlights include a win at Iowa Speedway in 2011 and a career-best fifth-place finish in the championship in 2013, marked by multiple podium finishes throughout the season. Andretti extended his full-time career in IndyCar through 2020, before transitioning to focus on business ventures, while still participating in the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Global.
Over the course of his career, Andretti made 253 starts in IndyCar, achieving two race wins and 20 starts at the Indianapolis 500, where he earned pole position in 2020. He expressed gratitude to his family, teams, sponsors, and fans for their support, noting, “I feel so fortunate to be able to say I have 20 starts at the Speedway… It feels accomplishing to be able to retire having more podium finishes than my father and the same as my grandfather at the biggest race in the world.”
In addition to his IndyCar accomplishments, Andretti also competed in sports car racing, including the American Le Mans Series, and made notable appearances in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Grand-Am events.
Looking ahead, Andretti plans to dedicate more time to his family and business ventures, alongside working on his memoir titled “Defending the Dynasty,” which chronicles his life in motorsports.
Marco Andretti’s retirement marks the end of a significant chapter not only for him but for a family dynasty that has profoundly shaped American motorsports.
