“I never thought that I'd be around to share with you”: Mario Andretti shares a heartfelt message after grandson Marco’s racing retirement 

Motorsports legend Mario Andretti shared a heartfelt message for his grandson Marco, as the former announced his retirement from the world of racing on October 29, 2025. The IndyCar champion shared his thoughts in a video, which was uploaded by Marco Andretti on X.

Marco Andretti is the third generation of the Andretti racing family. It all began with Mario Andretti, who raced in a variety of series but is notably known for his success in F1 and IndyCar. Mario's son Michael followed in his father's footsteps, and then Marco carried on the racing legacy.

Marco Andretti began racing in go-karts before moving to single-seater open-wheel racing cars. He rose up the IndyCar ladder series before making it to Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) in 2005. Mario Andretti’s grandson made his IndyCar debut in 2006 and raced as a full-time driver for his father's team until the end of the 2020 season.

Since 2020, Marco Andretti has been participating as a one-off entry for the Indy 500 every year. As Marco announced his retirement from motorsports after a 30-year-long racing career, his granddad, Mario Andretti, shared a heartfelt message.

“Marco, can you believe, 30 years in the business. Celebrations that I never thought I'd be around to share with you,” said Mario Andretti

The IndyCar legend went on to recall some of his fondest memories of Marco Andretti's career, including the Indy 500s.

“Watching you was such a pride for me and everyone here in the Andretti household,” added Mario

The 2026 IndyCar will be the first season in 32 years where a driver from the Andretti family will not be featured on the grid. The last season when an Andretti wasn't on the grid was the 1993 season, when Michael Andretti took a sabbatical from IndyCar to race in F1.

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‘You'll always have my support’: Mario Andretti’s words of affirmation for Marco Andretti's post-racing career

Marco Andretti and his fiancée, Billie Jo Powers, were blessed with a baby girl last year, whom they named Miura Micah Andretti. The IndyCar driver also proposed to her now fiancé at the 2025 Indy 500 weekend, with a wedding soon to take place.

Marco, in his announcement, detailed how he will be focusing on his family as well as business ventures post the motorsports retirement. Mario Andretti shared words of affirmation in support of his grandson’s post-racing plans, as he said,

“You’re still young, there's a lot of future, whatever's your endeavour. You've got a beautiful baby and talk about her future. Anyway, I want you to know, whatever you do, you always have our support, my support, 3000%. Please enjoy.”

The 2025 Indy 500 was Marco Andretti's last race in IndyCar, where he crashed out on the first racing lap and was forced to retire.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi