APRIL 23, 2003

Mario!

Mario Andretti is planning to return to a racing car at the age of 63. The former World Champion, an avid CART fan and a member of the board of CART, says that he will try to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, part of the rival Indy Racing League, driving one of his son Michael's cars. Michael is short of drivers as both Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan are currently out of action. Under the IRL rules one driver can qualify a car and another can race it and Michael Andretti appears to want to get Mario to qualify a car for Kanaan to race if it is necessary.

The news is a big publicity event for the IRL as Andretti Sr. is one of the biggest names in US racing.

If Andretti does qualify he will beat AJ Foyt's record of 57 years of age.