Mario Andretti will be honored at this weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama as the grand marshal. He will give the command to start engines for the field of cars and drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.

It’s another tribute for one of the greatest race drivers of all-time, who will be honored at this year’s 103rd Indianapolis 500 on the 50th Anniversary of his lone Indianapolis 500 victory.

At 79, Andretti remains one of the biggest names in the history of the sport and is one of the best ambassadors for today’s NTT IndyCar Series.

“I just love the series,” Andretti said. “I know what it's done for me, but also, loving the sport, period, I know the value of it. The values are always put into that are probably not talked about enough, the versatility, how complete a (series) champion needs to be in this series. In the world of specializing today, this is the only series at the top level that can make that claim on versatility. So, it's got that extreme value.”

Andretti was one of the most versatile drivers in racing. He is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), the Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Championship (1978). He has also driven to victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona (1972) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (1967, 1970 and 1972).

He won four IndyCar “National Championships.” In his career.

Andretti believes the versatility a driver needs in the NTT IndyCar Series is what sets it apart from any other form of racing.

“You go from the big-track in Indianapolis, you go to the short oval at Gateway, then you go on a street course and then you go on a natural road course,” Andretti said. “As far as the season, it's daunting, but it's got more satisfaction than you could ever imagine from a driver's standpoint, and that's tremendous value.

“I have just a deep love for this series, the sport, and I've seen the issues that we had back in the mid-'90s, but right now to see what we have now, it's really gaining the status that it deserves. I think that in itself I think is very encouraging, and it gives you a lot of reason to be extremely optimistic.”

Andretti has become one of the great endorsers of IndyCar and is willing to extoll its praises as a series. He carries a tremendous amount of clout because of his legendary status.

When a legend of the past is excited about the future of the series, that is reason to get excited.

“When you believe in season, you've just got to keep talking about it, keep preaching, keep working at it because the value is there,” Andretti said.

Just one year shy of his 80th birthday, Andretti continues to get behind the wheel as the driver of the Honda “Fastest Seat in Sports” two-seater. He gives rides to VIPs and others who purchase the opportunity to get a real-life experience in an Indy car.

“I'm just crazy about that but is how valuable that is to showcase our sport because it's such a non-participant sport,” Andretti said. “And to media especially, they're the ones that write about the sport and fans that have been following us.

“‘Oh, this is what it's like.’

“You can see that there's a whole new energy coming away from the people, and you feel like you're cultivating it like one by one. If I get a dozen people a day or whatever, I think we've got a dozen more that will always remember and will go for it.

“You've got to be tireless about doing it. It's never enough season for trying to promote the series. Again, it's just what we love.”