The Top 10 American Racing Drivers In History

November 15, 2018

8. Mario Andretti

While Phil Hill may have been the only American-born driver to win the Formula One Drivers’ Championship, he wasn’t the only American. Born in Istria, then part of Italy, in 1940, Mario’s family fled in 1948. In 1964, he became an American citizen. Years later, after numerous races across several disciplines, he became a full-time Formula One driver in 1975, racing for Parnelli. He wouldn’t find his success immediately, however. Parnelli pulled out of F1 just two races into the 1976 season, and moved back to Lotus, who he had raced for part-time.

Here, after another season, he did it. In 1978, he clinched the championship at the Italian Grand Prix, allowing him to celebrate on his motherland’s turf. However, his victory, like Phil Hill’s, was tainted with tragedy. His friend and teammate, Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson, died following a crash at the race.

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