Professional racing drivers are a fascinating type of individual. They capture the eyes of the public with their incredible skills behind the wheel, chasing speeds one could only dream about reaching. If anyone lives their life in the fast lane, it's the racing drivers.

Throughout the years, and in more recent memory as well, we've seen some fantastic racing drivers. Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Kyle Busch, and Michael Schumacher, the list of names goes on and on! However, before these drivers rose to prominence, Mario Andretti was one of the earliest drivers to rise to international fame. His list of accomplishments, quite simply beggars belief. He's easily one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport!

While some of you who are older may already know about Mario Andretti, there's a good chance young racing fans don't know much about this legend. Here are 15 interesting things we just found out about Mario Andretti

15 Born In Montona, Istria

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Montona, Istria is now known as Motovun, Croatia. It was a part of the Kingdom of Italy but, after the annexation by Yugoslavia at the end of the second world war, it became part of modern-day Croatia. He was born on the 28th of February, 1940. As a child of war, he had to move around a lot as a kid!

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14 Always About Cars

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He and his twin brother Aldo were obsessed with cars from a very young age. According to their mom Rina, when they were around two years old, the boys would take lids out of the kitchen and run around mimicking cars. He began racing his hand-crafted wooden car at the age of 5!

13 Match Made In Heaven

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There was just something about cars that made complete sense to Mario. According to his book "What's It Like Out There," the first time he started a car, the feeling of the engine shuddering and the car coming to his life was enough to get him hooked!

12 Started With A 1948 Hudson

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After graduating from high school, Mario falsified a driver's license that would allow him to compete in amateur racing events. He and his brother worked together on a 1948 Hudson and found immediate success in their few races. Out of the first four, each of the twins won two races each!

11 Five-Decade

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From starting with USAC stock racing to reaching the heights of the Formula One, throughout his legendary career, Andretti's performance took him to highest prestige in the sport. He competed in professional racing for nearly five decades and won several different kinds of races. All his achievements showcase the all-round nature of his driving.

10 One Of Two

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Throughout his legendary career, Mario Andretti competed in all the major racing events. Not only did he compete, but he won all the major events. He is one of only two drivers that won races in Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, and World Sportscar Championship. It goes to show why so many people consider him the GOAT driver!

9 Won Some Of The Greatest

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When you're talking about trophy cabinets, few drivers can boast one stacked like Andretti's. He won some of the greatest races in the world. These include the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500. He was the Formula One World Champion and also won the IndyCar National four times. The list goes on and on!

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8 Accolades Don't End There

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There was an inevitability about Mario Andretti, and he was a darling of the media. His humble nature but fearsome competitiveness made him the perfect winner. He won the Driver of the Year in three different decades. Additionally, he also won Driver of the Century in 2000 and won these awards against the best racers!

7 None Like Him

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Since the days of Mario Andretti, the landscape of driving has changed immensely. Most drivers are specialists now, choosing to dedicate their entire career to a singular competition. Andretti, though, was ready to race almost every weekend, and it didn't matter what the track or what car. He could race with anyone!

6 The Need For Speed

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Mario Andretti knew how to get the most out of any vehicle, he could push the limits regardless of what car you would give him. One of his legendary quotes is, "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." It just goes to show the mentality you need to be a successful racing driver!

5 111

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The number 111 is a significant representation of Mario Andretti's career. On its own, the 111 is a powerful number due to it being lucky. However, it's also the number of chequered flags Mario took during his incredible career. You could put the achievements of multiple racing drivers, and they still wouldn't match up!

RELATED: The 10 Indy Car Drivers With The Most Wins (& How Much They Won)

4 Revolutionary

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Not only was Andretti a great driver, he understood cars. Traditionally, you would notice that the grooves on the car were usually cut into the tire to help improve the grip. Mario is the first driver to use "slicks" and completely changed the game. After 1972, there was no team running a car on grooves!

3 Embodiment Of The American Dream

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Mario Andretti may have been born in what was once Italy. However, war tore across his homeland and he moved to America. It's America, where he managed to reach the heights of success that he did. It's quite a picture-perfect representation of the American dream. He's still an inspiration for people looking to better their situation!

2 Oldest Driver To Win IndyCar Event

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While age eventually catches up with everyone eventually, Mario Andretti was winning races at the prime old age of 53. In 1993, while his son, Michael, was racing in Formula 1, Mario was still competing in the IndyCar series. He won the second race of the season in Phoenix and is the oldest winner in the series!

1 Celebrity Among Celebrities

Mario Andretti superstar
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Lady Gaga, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard. The list of athletes that are in awe of the great Mario Andretti is ridiculous. He's a proper legend and captures the adoration of people with legions of followers themselves. To this day, he still craves the need for speed, and regularly takes his VIP guests for a ride around the track!

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