Only a few days ago, the famous Andretti family shocked the world by announcing an application to join Formula 1 with a new team for the 2024 season. Whether the FIA will approve the team or not remains a serious question, though the experience of Andretti Autosports in Indycar, Indy Lights, IMSA, Formula E, Extreme E, and Australian Supercars makes a potential expansion by Michael Andretti onto the world's biggest racing stage seem fairly legit. And now, fans of his father, Mario Andretti, can bid for their chance to win a legit 1985 Lola-Cosworth T900 racecar that the legend himself piloted to second place at that year's running of the Indianapolis 500.

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Legit Racing History For This Racecar

Mario Andretti 1985 Lola-Cosworth T900 2
via Michael Van Runkle / HotCars

Listed by the famous collectible car dealership Fantasy Junction on Bring a Trailer, this Lola T900 bears USAC and CART serial numbers, a Michigan VIN, and a Lola chassis number. Collector Don Lyons reportedly brought the car back to 1985 spec before selling it to the current owner in 2009, which explains the Beatrice Foods livery employed by the Newman/Hass Racing team for that season. Unfortunately, despite leading for a race-high 107 laps at Indy, Andretti ended up memorialized forever in second place due to Danny Sullivan's famous "spin and win" victory.

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An Uncomfortable Cockpit

Mario Andretti 1985 Lola-Cosworth T900 3
via Michael Van Runkle / HotCars

Inside, a cockpit not quite fit for a king features a fixed-back metal seat with a five-point harness, an alloy roll hoop, a Lola-MOMO quick-release steering wheel, and a built-in fire suppression system. The 110-inch wheelbase monocoque chassis employs a honeycomb alloy and carbon-fiber lower and a kevlar-composite upper, with aluminum-composite honeycomb for the bulkheads.

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Exposing Radiators, Engine, And Trans

Mario Andretti 1985 Lola-Cosworth T900 4
via Michael Van Runkle / HotCars

Removing the rear shell provides access to the extensive cooling systems, as well as the turbocharged 2.6-liter Cosworth V8 that might have spun up to as much as 12,600 RPM given the max reading on the dash's Smith tachometer. Power gets routed to a set of cast magnesium-alloy centerlock wheels and Goodyear Eagle Speedway Special racing slicks via a Hewland DGB five-speed manual gearbox, with a special magnesium bellhousing that allows for lower placement of the turbo and a lower center of gravity overall. Other details include Koni coilovers, a driver-controlled sway bar, and AP Racing discs all around with separate front and rear master cylinders. Bidding currently sits at $85,900 with 10 days remaining until the final gavel.

Source: bringatrailer.com.