Mario Andretti’s racing experience isn’t over yet. The racing legend who hasn’t been behind the wheel in competition since a crash at the 2003 Indianapolis 500 wants to team up with his son and grandson for an endurance race.

Mario Andretti, 73, retired from racing a while ago, but he’s never gotten racing out of his mind. Mario Andretti had a spectacular crash at 2003 Indianapolis 500 but wants to put caution to the wind and team with his son, Michael, and his grandson, Marco, for an endurance race like the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona or 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Mario Andretti said “I’d do it. There’s no point in me coming back unless there’s a compelling a reason. Marco would do it. Michael doesn’t want to do it. He’s much younger than I am and he says he’s too old. You figure that out. But if I can convince Michael to do it, I’ll do it. I would. I still have the competitive spirit, which is good.”

His son may be against it, but Mario Andretti’s grandson Marco, who is 26, thinks it would be fun. Marco posted fast practice runs this week at Pocono Raceway. He says his grandfather would be “up to the task,” of driving as a tag-team partner in the annual races.

Marco Andretti said “He would start and finish and dad and I would do all the brunt work. I think dad doesn’t love it like me and my grandfather,” he said. “He was just very good and he knew he was good. But I think he’s really happy and content where he’s at and he’s doing a heck of a job there, too, as an owner.”

In 1969, Mario Andretti won the Indianapolis 500 which started a long career behind the wheel. Mario retired from IndyCar in 1994. The last time he was behind the wheel was when he was testing a car for his son Michael at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2003. His car hit debris from Kenny Brack’s car which sent his car airborne and flipping end over end. Mario Andretti wasn’t hurt.

He says “I figured, I’m going to meet my creator. I didn’t know which way I was going to go. But I was OK. It wasn’t my fault. I was in my element. I was lucky as hell. I landed on the wheels and only got a scratch.”

The crash was part of what racing fans call the “Andretti Curse.”

Mario said “They always have to talk about something. But we’ve had great times there, just tough times really finishing when we were dominating. Not only myself, Michael as well. Were we capable of winning multiple times? Damn right.”

 by Tony Sokol