NASCAR, IndyCar driver John Andretti dies from cancer
Race car driver John Andretti died Thursday following a three-year battle with colon cancer. He was 56.
“John was a loving husband and father, a devoted son and a trusted cousin,” said a statement released Thursday by Andretti Autosport. “He was a philanthropist, an advocate for the sport, a dedicated teammate, a driven competitor and most importantly a dear friend.”
Andretti led a storied 24-year career on the track. He was a two-time NASCAR race winner in the highest division (393 starts) and a 12-time starter in the Indianapolis 500.
In 1994, Andretti became the first driver to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a feat that has been attempted by only three other drivers since.
“John Andretti embodied the spirit of a champion and inspired an entire fan base through his courageous battle with cancer,” NASCAR said in a statement. “He was a fierce competitor throughout his life, and we are saddened by his passing. The entire NASCAR family sends its deepest condolences and prayers to John’s family.”
Andretti is the nephew of Mario Andretti, the only driver to win the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and the Formula One driver’s championship. He is the son of Aldo Andretti and cousin of Michael, Jeff and Marco Andretti, who have all had prominent auto sports careers.
In 2010, Andretti made his last NASCAR start with Front Row Motorsports. Seven years later, he announced a diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer, which he responded to by advocating for prevention and early detection of the disease. He helped others undergo proper screening while pursuing philanthropic ventures with the Riley Hospital for Children.
In a statement released on Twitter Thursday, Andretti Autosport encouraged its followers to use the hashtag #CheckIt4Andretti to honor the driver.
“I think everybody in our family’s always heard this: ‘You’re not going to live to see 20,’” Andretti told the The Indianapolis Star last May. “Then it was, ‘You’re not going to live see 25.’ Then 30. But here I am. Still going. Our family’s already been through plenty of trials, and we’re still here.”
“To get taken down by this, well, I’m going to go out giving it the strongest fight I can give it.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 9:23 PM.
