Mario Andretti, the renowned 1978 Formula One champion and racing icon, has expressed his profound admiration for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, comparing it favorably to his final F1 race at Caesars Palace in 1982. In a recent discussion, he highlighted the stark contrasts and advancements made since the sport’s earlier days in the city.
In an exclusive interview with Lydia Mee via Sports Illustrated, Mario Andretti revisited his memories of racing at the Caesars Palace Grand Prix back in 1982 and reflected on the evolution of Formula One racing in Las Vegas. The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, he noted, stood in stark contrast to the rudimentary setup of the early 80s, when the race was held on a temporary track essentially in the car park of Caesars Palace.
“Well, there’s no comparison to that race in Caesars Palace,” Andretti began. “It was the preparation and the effort that went into the infrastructure and so forth. What was done in Las Vegas [in 2023] was purely spectacular. And so, no comparison here.”
The 2023 event, according to the Italian-born American racing driver, was a reflection of the growing popularity of Formula One in the United States. Unlike the temporary, makeshift track of his last race, the modern Grand Prix took place down the iconic Las Vegas Strip, offering not only a challenging street race for the drivers but also a visually spectacular experience for the fans.
“It’s awesome, as you mentioned that you have three totally different venues far away from one another [in the US], but it doesn’t matter, they create the interest that you were hoping for because all three of the venues, they had tremendous attendance and so you want to keep cultivating that.
“It was presented properly, beautifully, and the one that was probably the most delicate was Las Vegas, because you’re intruding in the center of the city as popular as that is. It turned out to be just spectacular and viewing that, I was mesmerized quite honestly,” he admitted.
Andretti believes that Formula One is the most popular it has ever been in the United States right now and he hopes the “bubble” will keep going. He concluded:
“So let’s keep cultivating that side of it. It’s in a good place right now. I think Formula One is enjoying [one of the] greatest moments ever as far as popularity in the United States so let’s keep the bubble going.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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