LM24: Ford GT40 Stories - Mario Andretti

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Marshall Pruett (words & images)
RACER looks back at the legendary Ford GT40 program that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans with four consecutive wins from 1966-1969 in a series of new interviews with the iconic drivers who represented the Blue Oval.

Mario Andretti took part in Ford's first two trips to Le Mans, partnering with Belgium's Lucien Bianchi. Andretti's star was on the rise in America after making an impressive debut at the Indy 500 in 1965, and he followed up that third-place finish with pole position for the 1966 race (left) just 19 days before making his first start at Le Mans in a GT40. Andretti and Bianchi were unable to reach the finish line in both outings, but did witness the sister cars of Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren win in 1966 and A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney capture victory in 1967.


On his first big factory opportunity with Ford: "It was fantastic program because it was really a total commitment from the top. Mr. Ford, he had the ambitious goal to win at all costs. Because of that, there was extensive, extensive development. And what worked for me was the fact that I really wanted to do as much road racing as possible, because I wasn't [yet] driving in Formula 1 and there was no other chance to do a lot of it here [in the U.S.] since I was in Indy cars."


On learning from teammates and developing the Ford GT40s: "Being alongside a lot of Formula 1 drivers, Bruce McLaren in particular, he and I really, really got on well. And we used to talk about technique. Hairpin techniques. He was one of the masters on hairpins. I used to go watch him whenever I would be finished. The high-speed [corners], I had it pretty good but [in the hairpins], I learned a lot from Bruce.
"Again, it's just the amount of miles that were put under my belt with that program; it was just golden for me. To drive at Le Mans with Ford... I didn't have much luck, obviously. We went to Sebring when we first brought out the Mark IV, the first race with the Mark IV (below), I was part of that development, which had to happen very, very quick after we got killed in Daytona by Ferrari."


On Ford's massive dedication to winning Le Mans: "Overall, that was a wonderful program to be a part of because, as I said, it was just a major commitment. Just to give you an example: in 1967, I think, there was a flaw and all the windshields at the line of vision. And it was really a huge problem. They put all their windshields in first class – they bought first-class seats to get their windshields to Paris – and then to us so they can install them. It was a crack; they kept cracking right at the line of vision [on] all the cars. So there was a basic flaw. Only Ford could do that -– they would've bought a freaking airliner just to get them over there."


On the amazing speed of the GT40 at Le Mans: "In 1966 or 1967, I set a record at Mulsanne and that is when I just gritted my teeth and did the kink flat and I went shoulder to shoulder. I think we were somewhere around 240 miles an hour at one o'clock in the morning. That is when the engine performed best. It was 237mph ... some crazy speed."