When reigning Formula 1 World Champion moved to Indycar in 1993, the Motor Sport world was delighted, with the possible exception of one Mario Andretti.
"Haas, looking to fill the vacancy left by Michael's departure, flew to Monza to court Mansell. (Paul) Newman sealed the deal by telling the frustrated Briton, "You've got to come on this Wild West adventure."
The motor sport world was stunned and generally thrilled, with one notable exception – Mansell's team-mate-to-be, Mario Andretti. In 1983, Andretti had brokered the marriage of Newman and Haas with the stipulation that the team be run as a single-car operation. Six years later, he agreed – "almost reluctantly", he admits – to allow his son to join the team. But Mario remained so fiercely competitive that he raced Michael as hard as anybody.
Although the wounds he suffered during the Mansell years still fester, the passage of 40 years has given Andretti a mellower perspective on the decision to bring in an outsider. "I understand it now. Business-wise and from a team standpoint, it made sense," he tells me. "But all of a sudden Nigel was the preferred driver. I felt like it was a little bit unfair.""
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