Mario Wreck 1969
by TC
[05/08/2010]
As a kid who grew up on 30th st. and Moller Rd; I would almost always
go to the track for practice after school in May. On this particular day
when I was in the sixth grade, I snuck down to the outside area of
turn 4. In those days they only let you go into the inside straight for
practice setting.
USAC was the sanctioning body for the race in those days and they
used to have little green wooden booths placed on the out side walls
for USAC officials to sit in. On that day I went to sit in an observation
stand outside of turn for as no one was around and I seized a goldon
opportunity. The year was 1969 and Mario Andretti was driving a really
hot revolutionary lotus. Around 5:30 p.m., he rounded turn 3 on a
practice lap and lost it, which sent him into the outside wall. The lotus
came apart like a cheap toy on Christmas morning and burst into
flames. Fortunately, Mario only suffered burns to his face. He went
on to win his first and only 500 that year driving the Brawner Hawk.
It was amazing to be in the right place at the right time to see this
amazing and somewhat historical incident.
I now reside in Tallahassee, Fl. and return to Indy as often as I can
for the race. Last year I took my son to his first Indy 500.
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