Michael Andretti Siblings: Get to Know Jeff Andretti

Michael Andretti, born Michael Mario Andretti on October 5, 1962, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, stands as one of the most accomplished figures in American motorsport.

As the eldest son of legendary racer Mario Andretti, he inherited a passion for speed that propelled him into a storied career behind the wheel and later as a team owner.

Raised in a family deeply immersed in racing, Andretti grew up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where the roar of engines was as familiar as family dinners.

His journey from karting prodigy to CART champion and IndyCar team principal exemplifies a blend of raw talent, relentless determination, and an unyielding commitment to the sport that defined generations of his lineage.

Siblings

Michael shares his racing heritage most directly with his younger brother, Jeff Andretti, born on April 14, 1964.

Jeff followed in the family’s footsteps, becoming a professional driver in the IndyCar and CART series during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He earned Rookie of the Year honors in CART in 1991 and competed alongside Michael in several high-profile events, including the Indianapolis 500, where a severe crash in 1994 curtailed his promising career.

Their sister, Barbara Andretti, born on July 13, 1969, represents a quieter side of the family, staying largely out of the spotlight while supporting her brothers’ endeavors from the sidelines.

Career

Andretti’s racing odyssey began in earnest at age 10, when he took to karting and quickly dominated, securing victories in 50 of 75 races over eight years.

By 1980, he had earned his SCCA National License and claimed the Northeast Division Formula Ford championship in 1981, followed by the Robert Bosch US Formula Super Vee title in 1982.

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Transitioning to the CART series in 1983, Andretti burst onto the scene with consistent top finishes, but it was 1986 that marked his breakthrough: he notched his first win at Long Beach and finished second in the championship, edging out his father Mario in several nail-biting duels, including a 0.07-second defeat at Portland on Father’s Day.

The late 1980s saw him join Newman/Haas Racing in 1989, where he raced alongside Mario, making them the first father-son duo to compete in both IMSA GT and IndyCar.

The pinnacle arrived in 1991, as Andretti clinched the CART championship with eight wins and eight poles in 17 races, amassing a then-record 42 career victories by his retirement in 2002—his final triumph coming at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

A brief, turbulent foray into Formula 1 with McLaren in 1993 alongside Ayrton Senna yielded a podium at Monza but was marred by crashes and mechanical woes, leading to his mid-season replacement by Mika Häkkinen.

Undeterred, he returned to CART, winning immediately in Australia in 1994 and continuing to rack up podiums until hanging up his helmet.

Post-driving, Andretti pivoted to ownership, co-founding Andretti Green Racing in 2003, which evolved into Andretti Global.

Under his stewardship, the team has flourished across IndyCar, IMSA, Formula E, and more, with drivers like Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, and Ryan Hunter-Reay delivering championships and Indianapolis 500 victories in 2005, 2007, and 2014.

Accolades

Andretti’s 1991 CART/PPG World Series championship stands as the crown jewel, bolstered by five runner-up finishes and two third-place seasons, underscoring his consistency in an era of fierce competition.

With 42 CART wins—the third-most all-time behind Mario’s 52 and A.J. Foyt’s 67, he also ranks third in laps led at 6,607 and fifth in poles with 32, while amassing over $18.3 million in career earnings, second only to Al Unser.

At the Indianapolis 500, where victory eluded him despite leading a record 806 laps across 22 starts, he secured second place in 1991 after a thrilling late duel with Rick Mears and fifth as a rookie in 1984.

His 1993 Formula 1 podium at Monza remains the last for an American driver until Logan Sargeant’s era.

As an owner, Andretti Global has notched 54 IndyCar wins through 2014 alone, including four series titles and three Indy 500 triumphs, earning him induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.