Mario Andretti
FILE - NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, left, and Indycar driver Scott Dixon, right, talk during practice for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this May 16, 2019, file photo. Johnson and Dixon will be competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race that begins next Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at 1:30m p.m. ET. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Column: Johnson more comfortable for 2nd IndyCar season

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 24, 2022 01:49 PM EST

Deke Houlgate, West Coast auto racing promoter, dies at 91

Dec. 30, 2021 06:08 PM EST
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Deke Houlgate, a longtime West Coast sports publicist whose clients included such auto racing greats as Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Richard...

FILE - Bobby Unser is a happy man as he accepts congratulations in the winner's circle for his triumph in the California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, Calif., March 11, 1974. He beat his brother, Al, by a half second to win $70,250. Al Unser, one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, following years of health issues. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)
'Like losing a family member': Unser's death hits hard

By Michael Marot Dec. 10, 2021 03:59 PM EST

FILE - Formula 1 race car driver Al Unser is seen in 1993. Unser, one of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 a record four times, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, following years of health issues. He was 82. (AP Photo, File)
Al Unser, a four-time winner of Indianapolis 500, dies at 82

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 10, 2021 03:29 AM EST

Fans attend a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Column: NASCAR ends season with new champions, new energy

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:09 PM EST

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Praise pours in for Kyle Larson following first NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:57 AM EST

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, moves into a turn during a practice session for the F1 US Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)
Column: F1 takes another run at conquering America

By Paul Newberry Oct. 22, 2021 04:51 PM EDT

The crew for Alpine driver Fernando Alonso, of Spain, push his car back to the garage during a practice session for the F1 US Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Hamilton-Verstappen Formula 1 duel hits the track in Texas

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 22, 2021 02:44 PM EDT

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly, third from left, of France, walks the course with his crew before the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)
Formula One foothold growing, series here to stay in USA

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 21, 2021 12:47 PM EDT

Indycar driver Colton Herta flips his hair after climbing from his race car following qualifying for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)
Column: Andretti & Herta would be F1's American dream team

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 11, 2021 04:31 PM EDT

FILE - Romain Grosjean (51) smiles before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
IndyCar speeds into Long Beach celebrating season of gains

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 24, 2021 01:02 PM EDT

Cars race under the lights during an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
IndyCar title race flips to O'Ward in wild race at Gateway

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 21, 2021 08:30 PM EDT

FILE - Romain Grosjean competes during an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in this Sunday, July 4, 2021, file photo. Former Formula One driver Romain Grosjean, who moved to IndyCar this year but said he'd only race the road and street courses, has fallen in love with the series and relented on his opposition to ovals. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar, File)
IndyCar's final stretch begins with last oval race of year

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 20, 2021 01:29 PM EDT

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, reacts after winning the pole for an IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
O'Ward works overtime to grab pole position in Indianapolis

By Michael Marot Aug. 13, 2021 08:46 PM EDT

IndyCar driver and Tennessee native Josef Newgarden prepares to play in his charity ping pong tournament, Thursday Aug. 5, 2021 at Pins Mechanical Company in Nashville, Tenn. Newgarden won the tournament and hopes to take home a bigger trophy when IndyCar races Sunday through downtown Nashville. (AP Photo/Daniel Gelston)
Home, speed, home: Newgarden set to tame Nashville streets

By Dan Gelston Aug. 06, 2021 11:35 AM EDT

Winner of this year's Indianapolis 500 auto race, Helio Castroneves, right, pours molten bronze into a brick mold engraved with his name to commemorate his fourth winning of the race, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. The brick will be laid among other bricks that mark the start/finish line of the course. Castroneves previously won the race in 2001, 2002, and 2009. Bud Tucker, a welder at the track, created the mold and assists Castroneves with the pouring. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Castroneves happily joins elite club of 4-time Indy winners

By Gary B. Graves Jul. 21, 2021 02:00 PM EDT

Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, prepares to drive during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Former F1 drivers see European interest growing in IndyCar

By Michael Marot Jun. 05, 2021 03:07 AM EDT

Fans fill the stands as Colton Herta leads the field in the early laps of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. About 135,000 spectators, about 40% of the speedway’s capacity, were admitted to the track for the largest sports event since the start of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Indianapolis 500 welcomes 135,000 fans in global benchmark

By Dan Gelston May. 30, 2021 02:20 PM EDT

Helio Castroneves of Brazil celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Good company: Helio Castroneves wins Indy 500 for 4th time

By Jenna Fryer May. 30, 2021 01:50 PM EDT

Fans watch during the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 28, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indy fans, start your party! 500 is on, and crowds are back

By Dan Gelston May. 29, 2021 03:15 AM EDT