Monoposto

Nº 16

Mario Andretti

1978 World Champion

John Player Team Lotus

Overview

Mario Andretti, born in Montona, Italy, now Motovun in Croatia, on 28 February 1940, emigrated to the United States in 1955 and won the 1978 World Drivers' Championship with Lotus.1 He also won the 1967 Daytona 500 and the 1969 Indianapolis 500.1

1978

Six wins, 13 points clear of Ronnie Peterson

Ground effect

He won six races with Lotus, whose ground-effect cars were a step ahead.12 He finished 13 points clear of his teammate, Ronnie Peterson.3

Every Grand Prix finish, 1978

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

5 photographs, in season order

Helmet

His helmet was silver, with a red chevron edged in blue.4 He started with plain silver and a strip of red tape. The chevron arrived with Viceroy's sponsorship in 1972, outlined in gold at first, then in blue for the rest of his career.5 He later gave away most of his helmets, including the one from 1978.5

A drawing of his 1978 design.

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Lotus ground-effect cars

His title came with Lotus's ground-effect designs, starting with the Lotus 78.1

The Lotus 79 at the 2020 Autosport International show.

David Merrett · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1978
Lotus 78 and 79

Road to the title

  1. 1967Won the Daytona 500.1
  2. 1968Formula One debut in the United States, on pole.1
  3. 1969Won the Indianapolis 500.1
  4. 1971First win, in South Africa, on his Ferrari debut.1
  5. 1978World Drivers' Champion.1

Records

  • Pole position on his Formula One debut1
  • Winner of the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and the Formula One title1

Sources