Just a few words about John Andretti. He had success in every series in which he drove. He had one Indycar win at Surfer’s Paradise, two NASCAR Cup wins, a Rolex 24 win, and he did well driving a dragster. John was the first driver to do the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 double in 1994. I really admired him for that at the time. He finished 10th in the 500, then John scurried to Charlotte.

In his first NASCAR win, he held off Dale Earnhardt in the 1997 Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He nearly won the Brickyard 400 in 1995. A late pit stop cast him the victory.

Beyond racing, Andretti had compassion for others. His Race4Riley program has helped many kids at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. When he was diagnosed with colon cancer, he encouraged others to get colonoscopies at age fifty. He waited too long to have one, and didn’t want others to suffer the same fate. It was inspiring following the ups and downs of his battle with cancer over the last two and a half years.

I hope at St. Pete all cars will carry a decal honoring him. I would hope they keep it on all year.

I think I will remember John’s  caring more than his racing career. In his memory gifts can be made to the following:

Window World Cares

118 Shaver Street

North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

http//www.windowworldcares.com

 

Riley Children’s Foundation

30 S. meridian St., Suite 200

Indianapolis, IN 46204

https//www.rileykids.org