Mario Andretti Fulfills Longtime Indy 500 Fan’s Wishes Only to Be Stood Up

Mario Andretti responded to a heartfelt request from a devoted Indy 500 fan, only to find himself missing the personal connection he expected.

The fan, ‘Pat B’, had long been a fixture in Speedway, living in the shadows of the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With a move on the horizon to be closer to his grandchildren, he sought a memorable farewell involving one of the sport’s greatest legends, Mario Andretti. Pat reached out via Twitter, inviting Andretti to sign a symbolic ‘wing and wheel’ and to accept a jar of pasta sauce, a memento from his wife’s family who avidly followed Andretti during the 1980s. His message read:

“As the week of the 108th Indianapolis 500 is upon us, it’s time to reflect on our final Indianapolis 500 as Speedway, Indiana residents after 22 years. Make no mistake, we love this town more than words can describe. But one thing we love more by a long shot is our family.”

After delving into his personal circumstances surrounding his move, Pat B added:

“This is also my final chance to see if MarioAndretti could stop by and be the final signer of the wing & wheel before I pass it on to my next door neighbors, as it deserves to stay behind in Speedway. Mario, if you read this, I’ve got a jar of pasta sauce from my wife’s aunt & uncle’s Italian restaurant in Waterbury, Connecticut who used to follow you to races during the CART days back in the mid 1980’s that I’d love for you to sign as a retirement present for them. They love you like no other!”

Andretti, touched by the request, made his way to Pat’s home, only to discover that Pat was not there. The moment, though missed in person, was captured by a doorbell camera.

Pat later tweeted his regrets, noting:

“The greatest 36 seconds of our 22 years in Speedway…even though I was at the store! I’m laughing now, but not so much earlier when I missed him!”

Andretti later responded to Pat on Twitter, writing:

“I stopped by your house this afternoon and signed it on the left tip of the wing. Rang the doorbell and nobody answered, although the garage door was open so I think you were home. I saw the wing on the front so signed it. Have a fun weekend.”

Meanwhile, Mario Andretti has been embroiled in efforts to expand his family’s legacy into Formula 1 with Andretti Global. Despite initial approval from the FIA, their bid encountered resistance from Formula One Management (FOM), particularly from Liberty Media’s CEO, Greg Maffei. Despite these setbacks, Andretti remains committed, believing his team brings significant value to the sport.