Mario Andretti

“I count my blessings every day, quite honestly, because I take nothing for granted.”

“All of the courses that run through real streets are very demanding. There is no room for error, no shoulders to lean on. If you go off the road, you're into somebody's shop-window or front porch.”

“There's something special about racing in real streets. The 'artificial' circuits have a certain sameness to them. But every race conducted on real streets has a character of its own - Barcelona, Monaco, and now Long Beach.”

“At Andretti Winery, I'm not the winemaker.”

“Foreign players is what makes golf so popular now.”

“Do it no matter what. If you believe in it, it is something very honorable. If somebody around you or your family does not understand it, then that's their problem. But if you do have a passion, an honest passion, just do it.”

“If a neighbor is killed in a car accident, do you sell your car and stop driving?”

“I've always said, 'I didn't have a Plan B in life.' I was in pursuit of my dream from the very beginning. It's all about desire and passion. At all costs.”

“The day of parochialism in sports is over. The world is too small for what people like to call 'the good old days.' Fans want the best, wherever they come from.”

“You should never get away from where the real foundation of Formula One has been, which is Europe. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the expansion to countries like Asia, China, Malaysia.”

“If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”

“It seemed like whenever I got a bona fide offer from Ferrari, I couldn't do it. And vice versa - when I was ready, their seats were taken. We always had a relationship, but what's important is that I pretty much started my F1 career with them and ended it there, too.”

“I still have the competitive spirit, which is good.”

“Al Unser Sr. was one of the smartest drivers I've ever raced against. And I often said, I wish I could've had some of his patience. I know it would have worked for me many times.”

“From a prestige standpoint, the U.S. needs to host Formula 1. And I think Formula 1, they know they need the U.S. as well. So many companies that are global are based in the United States support Formula 1.”

“I love technology - yes, I have fallen in love with older cars, but I'm all for new technology.”

“A racing car is an animal with a thousand adjustments.”

“It makes great conversation to discuss what's wrong with open-wheel racing today.”

“You do a period of go-karting until you're at the age of qualifying for a ride in a 'school-kart,' then you qualify for driving school. And several of the driving schools have a competition series for their own students.”

“Anybody who can drive and doesn't come out of it a rich man is a fool.”