Granatelli, Indy 500-winning car owner, dies at 90

0

MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Andy Granatelli, the former CEO ofSTP motor oil company who made a mark
on motorsports as a car owner,innovator and entrepreneur, has died. He was 90.Granatelli’s son, Vince, said
his father died Sunday of congestive heart failure at a Santa Barbara hospital.Granatelliis a member of the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame, theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Indianapolis Motor
SpeedwayHall of Fame."Everything he did was bigger than life," VinceGranatelli said. "The
thing that gave him the most gratification in hislife was what he did at the Indianapolis
500."Granatelli’s carsnearly won at Indianapolis in 1967 and ’68 with turbine engines. Hebroke through
in 1969 with Mario Andretti driving a car with aconventional engine. Granatelli kissing Andretti on the
cheek in VictoryLane is one of the most famous images in Indy history.In 1973, Gordon Johncock gave
Granatelli another Indy 500 victory."AndyGranatelli — known appropriately as ‘Mr. 500’ — understood
better thananyone the spirit and challenge of the Indianapolis 500 and had aremarkable ability to combine
innovative technologies with talented racecar drivers to make his cars a threat to win at Indianapolis
everyyear," Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said in astatement. "Andy
leaves a legacy of historic moments that will liveforever in Indianapolis 500 lore."Granatelli was born
in Dallas.He gained fame during World War II as a promoter of racing events, suchas the Hurricane Racing
Association.He is survived by wife Dolly and sons Vince and Anthony.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.

No posts to display