Hear Their Engines Roar : Michael, Father Mario Andretti Enjoy Long Beach Grand Prix for Simple Reason That They Seem to Drive Their Best on Seaside Course

Long Beach has been special for the Andretti family.

It was there, on a temporary racecourse laid out through seaside streets in 1986, that Michael Andretti won his first Indy race. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the first of 28 races won by the second-generation driver from Nazareth, Pa.

“Where you win the first one is always somewhere you look forward to going back,” Andretti said Friday during a lull in practice for Sunday’s 20th anniversary race. “The way I won was great, too. It’s always nice to win, but it’s more exciting when it’s close, and Al (Unser) Jr. and I had a great battle that day. I think the last 20 laps, we were just going at it, and then to win it that way over a guy like Al was . . . it made it a special way to win.

“Our whole family loves coming to Long Beach.”

Michael’s father, Mario, has won four times at Long Beach--the United States Grand Prix Formula One race in 1977 and PPG Cup Indy car races in 1984, ’85 and ’87.

When Michael and Mario were last in Long Beach together, two years ago, they were Newman-Haas teammates. Then Michael made his forgettable move to Formula One, a season with McLaren in which he finished only six of 13 races. Before the season was over, he had left McLaren and returned to Indy cars to join Chip Ganassi’s team.

“One of the special things about coming back is that I get to race against my dad again,” Michael said. “When I left to go to Europe, it saddened me that I would never be in a race with him again after all the good times we had together. Having one more year with him will make this season extra special.”

Mario Andretti has announced that this will be his last season, and Sunday’s 166-mile race around the nine-turn, 1.59-mile circuit will be his last at Long Beach.

“I’m going to really miss this place,” Mario said. “Some places just treat you better than others, and no question, Long Beach has been good to me over the years. Believe me, I wish I could take some of that luck with me to other places where I can’t seem to buy a break.

“When I think back to coming here for the first time in 1975 (for a Formula 5000 race) and seeing the city then, and seeing what it is today, there has been tremendous growth. I think it’s a great credit to the city, and to Chris Pook and his Grand Prix organization.

“For any driver to win his home country’s Grand Prix is very, very special, so to have won here has a great deal of personal meaning to me. It was such a great race and (Jody) Scheckter and I were nose to tail just about all the way. I managed to get by him at the end. Getting that trophy was sweet, believe me.”

The Andrettis gave Mario’s “Arrivederci, Mario” tour a jump start in the season opener at Surfers Paradise, Australia, when Michael was the winner and Mario was third.

“Hopefully, that moment on the podium together in Australia won’t be the only one we have throughout the year,” Michael said.

Still, things are different this year from when father and son were teammates. Mario remains with Newman-Haas, but with Britain’s Nigel Mansell as his teammate. Michael is with Ganassi in a new Reynard chassis powered by a Ford Cosworth.

“Being with different teams is really nothing new to Dad and me,” Michael said. “Before I joined Newman-Haas, I had driven about five years for Kraco, so the family conversations are back the way they used to be. Obviously, we are not as open as when we drove together, but we know pretty much how to handle it. It’s never been a real problem.”

The Reynard made its Indy car debut with the victory in Australia, continuing a tradition created by owner Adrian Reynard. On seven previous occasions, his cars won the first time out.

“The way the Reynard ran in Australia gives me confidence for Long Beach,” Michael said. “There were parts of the Surfers Paradise course that are very similar to Long Beach and that’s where I was quickest, so I’m hoping that our car repeats its performance down there.”

The Reynard chassis wasn’t the only first-time winner in Australia. Before Andretti took the checkered flag, Ganassi’s team had gone 65 races without winning since the former driver broke with Pat Patrick and formed his own team.

“I’ve known Chip Ganassi since I was a teen-ager and I felt he had all the ingredients this year for a winning combination,” Andretti said. “We worked very hard last winter, and I prayed to God that things would work out. The Lord answered my prayers when we won in Australia.”

Andretti met Ganassi when they were driving Formula Fords. Ganassi was the Northeast Division Formula Ford champion in 1980. The next year, Andretti won six races and succeeded Ganassi as champion.

“When I started racing (Formula Fords), all I heard was Chip Ganassi this and Chip Ganassi that,” Michael said. “The first time we met was at West Palm Beach in the first race of 1981. Chip led from the start, but then it began to rain and I passed him in the wet. We finished 1-2. I like to remind him of that every chance I get.”

Ganassi, who was the fastest rookie qualifier for the Indianapolis 500 in 1982, beating Bobby Rahal and Danny Sullivan, smiles when reminded of the race with Andretti.

“As long as he keeps winning for our team, he can have all the bragging rights he wants,” Ganassi said.