Andretti curse

The Andretti Curse, sometimes referred to as Andretti Luck, is a superstition in reference to a seemingly perpetual string of bad luck the Andretti racing family has experienced in their efforts to win the Indianapolis 500. Similar to other sports-related "curses", the Andretti Curse is a considered a tongue-in-cheek reference, popularized and often sensationalized in racing circles by the media, particularly during the Month of May at Indy.

Patriarch and auto racing legend Mario Andretti won the race only once (1969). In victory lane, prolific car owner Andy Granatelli planted a kiss on the young Andretti's cheek. Following the win, Mario never managed to win the great race for a second time before his retirement in 1994. The misfortune at Indianapolis, with a cumulative total (through 2015) of 70 starts as drivers, has notably extended to his sons Michael and Jeff, nephew John, grandson Marco, and to an in-direct extent, to his twin brother Aldo, and former car owner Paul Newman. The reasons for defeat have ranged from a bevy of mechanical failures, crashes, to a stunning last-lap pass in 2006.

Michael, Jeff, and Marco all followed in the footsteps of Mario by winning the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award, but none of those three, nor John, have yet managed to win the race. Michael Andretti has won the race three times as an owner, but twice the driver subsequently defected to rival Ganassi the following year.

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