AVONDALE, Arizona – Throughout the history of Indy car racing, few names are as recognized as Andretti, Fittipaldi and Rahal.
Those families, however, have not battled together on a racetrack in nearly two decades. That drought will end tonight in the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix at ISM Raceway, when Marco Andretti, Pietro Fittipaldi and Graham Rahal take the green flag.
The last time a member of each family was in the same race was at the CART season finale on Nov. 1, 1998, when Michael Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi and Bobby Rahal were in the field at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. It marked the final race as a driver for Rahal (shown at right in 1998), now co-owner of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team for which his son drives.
Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal have been mainstays in the sport for more than a decade, while tonight marks the Verizon IndyCar Series debut for Pietro Fittipaldi – the grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, nephew of former Indy car driver and current INDYCAR steward Max Papis and cousin of Christian Fittipaldi (though Pietro calls Christian his uncle).
“Obviously, it’s history,” said Pietro, who qualified 10th on Friday the No. 13 The Paysafe Car Honda for Dale Coyne Racing.
“You have Andretti, Rahal and, oh, who else did you say? Fittipaldi! It’s great. I’m racing world-class drivers. INDYCAR is one of the top single-seater championships in the world. It’s the first time with a single seater on an oval, my first time racing it.
“We did a test (at Phoenix) in February, so it’s going to be a learning process. I’m going to try and soak in as much information as I can, especially for Indianapolis.”
There is no shortage of support for Pietro, who receives constant tips from his grandfather, the two-time Formula 1 and 1989 Indy car champion. “Emmo” also won at Phoenix in 1994.
“(Emerson is) always calling me after every session, before every event,” Pietro said. “He actually called a few days ago to give me some more tips about Phoenix and running in traffic.
“He knows it’s very different from when he raced in the past. Cars have a lot more downforce now, so in traffic it’s a bit more difficult to run, especially on these short ovals, but he’s always there giving me input.
“I also have both my uncles, Christian and Max, to help me out as well, so it’s great to have this family of racers behind me and helping me out.”
It’s also fitting that the Andretti-Fittipaldi-Rahal competition return comes at the same race where INDYCAR and ISM Raceway are celebrating the 25th anniversary celebration of Mario Andretti’s 52nd and final Indy car win. To honor his grandfather, Marco Andretti is driving a car with a similar paint scheme to the No. 6 Newman/Haas Racing Kmart/Texaco Havoline Ford/Lola that Mario wheeled into victory lane in April 1993, as well as a firesuit and racing helmet similar to the one his grandfather wore that day.
Mario Andretti benefited that day when Emerson Fittipaldi crashed while leading the race with less than 30 laps to go. Bobby Rahal finished 22nd.
Combined, the trio of families have amassed eight victories at ISM Raceway – Mario Andretti has four wins (1966, ’67, ’88, ’93), Bobby Rahal two (1984, ’92), Michael Andretti one (1986) Emerson Fittipaldi one (1994).
Graham Rahal, who starts 12th tonight in the No. 15 One Cure Honda, appreciates the renewal of the three-family battle.
“Pietro has done a good job,” he said. “I was shocked, I didn’t think he had any oval experience, but come to find out he had done those (late-model) modifieds for years and did hundreds of oval races. He’s a great young shoe.
“I think it’s great for a lot of fans. They’re all recognizable names. They’re big names and guys that could all be a big part of the future of this sport.”
Marco Andretti will start 20th in the No. 98 Oberto Circle K / Curb Honda for Andretti Herta Autosport, the team uncovering a mechanical issue after qualifying that hindered his attempt. The 13th-year Verizon IndyCar Series veteran believes he has a car that can move through the field in race conditions, but he won’t necessarily be looking for Rahal or Fittipaldi as he does.
“It’ll be cool, it’ll be fun,” Marco said of racing with the other legacy drivers. “I’m not going to go into the race thinking much about them. You just try to beat everybody, but I think it’s good for the sport.”
Pietro Fittipaldi is eager to begin adding his own chapter to the Fittipaldi legacy in Indy car racing. Attending an exclusive dinner and program Thursday night in Phoenix to honor Mario Andretti has the 21-year-old even more excited for his debut under the ISM Raceway lights tonight.
“Yeah, it’s great,” Pietro said. “There’s a lot of history, a lot of family history. I went to the Andretti dinner, that was amazing. Listening to Mario speak, he’s like a legend, you know what I mean?
“Of course, it’s good to have all this history and be racing Indy cars. My grandfather and both my uncles had a lot of history in Indy cars, so I try to come here and make a name for myself as well.”
The Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix airs live at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN, the NBC Sports app and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.