Mario Andretti Named Grand Marshal of New York City's 2004 Columbus Day Parade

NEW YORK, August 2 --

- Winning Race Cars to Make Once-in-a-Lifetime Appearance on Fifth Avenue and at Andretti Exhibition in Grand Central Station

Legendary race car driver Mario Andretti has accepted the invitation to be the Grand Marshal of New York City's 60th Columbus Day Parade, announced Lawrence Auriana, President the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which produces the annual event. The Parade will be held on October 11 from 11:45 AM to approximately 3:00 PM.

"I am thrilled and honored to be the Grand Marshal of the 2004 Columbus Day Parade in New York City," said Mario Andretti. "The Parade is a celebration of accomplishments and of Italian-American contributions to the United States. I look forward to joining this great event and sharing my passion for automotive excellence and design and my love for Italy and America."

Parade watchers can expect a stunning display of historic race cars, new and vintage sports cars, and historic race motorcycles. Race cars from Mario's stellar career include the Lotus that he drove in winning the 1978 Formula One World Championship, the Brawner-Hawk in which he won the 1969 Indianapolis 500, and a replica of the Holman-Moody Ford Fairlane he drove in winning the 1967 NASCAR Daytona 500.

Andretti's race cars will be also exhibited in the landmark Vanderbilt Hall of historic Grand Central Station during the week preceding the Parade as part of an exhibition profiling his astonishing career (see below).

Mario will ride up world renowned Fifth Avenue in a 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago Spyder, which will be introduced on the East Coast during the Columbus Week Celebration. Several other Lamborghinis will make appearances, including a 1965 350 GT (the company's first production model), a 1972 Miura SV, a 1985 Countach, and a 1995 Diablo VT. Other honorees in the Parade will ride in six 2005 Audi Cabriolets.

Vintage Italian sports cars in the Parade will include the most complete presentation ever of rare Cisitalia automobiles. Built in Torino after the Second World War, these automobiles are known for their engineering excellence and participation in the legendary Italian Mille Miglia road race. The Cisitalias on parade will include a 1947 Savonuzzi Streamliner, a 1948 Nuvolari Spyder, a 1948 202 Cabriolet (the coupe version of which is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York), a 1949 204A Abarth Spyder, and a 1952 202D Coupe.

Preceding the Parade, with exhaust echoing off the elegant stores and hotels that line Fifth Avenue, will be a trio of historic Italian race bikes - a 1925 Moto Guzzi C2V, 1948 Moto Guzzi Gambalunga, and a 1956 MV 500 Agusta factory racer.

"In a career of winning that spanned an unprecedented five decades," said Mr. Auriana, "Mario Andretti has achieved prominence in almost every category of motor racing. He has been Formula One World Champion, Indy 500 winner, Daytona 500 winner, four-time Indy Car National Champion, USAC National Dirt Track Champion and three-time winner of 12 Hours of Sebring. He has been named Driver of the Year in three different decades, Driver of the Quarter Century, and Driver of the Century by the Associated Press and RACER Magazine." (Please see following an abbreviated list of Mario's accomplishments.)

"We are honored that Mario Andretti, who is often referred to as the greatest race car driver of all time, is joining us as we celebrate Italian- American heritage and achievements in the largest and most important Columbus Day Parade in the world," said Mr. Auriana. Past Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshals include Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, Rudy Giuliani, Sophia Loren, Luciano Pavarotti and Lee Iacocca.

The exhibition at Grand Central Station will feature exhibits of Mario's life and racing career along with the Formula One Lotus, the Brawner-Hawk Indy Car and the NASCAR Ford Fairlane. All three will be in the Parade. Also on view at Grand Central will be the 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago Spyder and the Italian race bikes. A continuous showing of a ten-minute video recounting Mario's unparalleled career will be presented in a temporary theater. The exhibition will be on view from Monday, October 4th through Friday, October 8th.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation has been producing the Columbus Day Parade since 1929. The Foundation's nearly 500 members are active in supporting scholarship funds, cultural programs and other initiatives developed by the Foundation's Board of Directors.

    Event:              Mario Andretti Exhibition  
    Dates:              October 4th through October 8th, 2004  
    Location:           Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Station, Park Avenue  
                        at 42nd Street 
 
    Event:              Columbus Day Parade  
    Date:               October 11th, 2004  
    Hours:              11:45 AM to approximately 3:00 PM 
    Start:              Fifth Avenue and 44th Street  
    End:                Fifth Avenue and 76th Street  
 
    
                                Mario Andretti 
                              Career Highlights

Mario Andretti is often referred to as the greatest race car driver of all time, having proven himself a winner at all levels of competition. Mario's skilled and versatile driving has produced some of racing history's most legendary accomplishments:

     -  Four-time Champ Car National Champion (1965, 1966, 1969, 1984) 
     -  Formula One World Champion (1978) 
     -  Daytona 500 winner (1967) 
     -  Three-time Indy 500 pole winner (1966, 1967, 1987) 
     -  Indy 500 winner (1969) 
     -  Three-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner (1967, 1970, 1972) 
     -  USAC National Dirt Track champion (1974) 
     -  International Race of Champions titlist (1979) 
     -  Named Driver of the Year in three different decades(1967, 1978, 1984) 
     -  Named Driver of the Quarter Century (1992) by vote of past Drivers of  
        the Year and panel of 12 journalists 
     -  All-time leader in Champ Car pole positions won (67) 
     -  All-time Champ Car lap leader (7,587) 
     -  All-time record holder for Champ Car starts (407) 
     -  All-time leader in wire-to-wire Champ Car victories (14) 
     -  Only driver ever to win Champ Car races in four decades 
     -  Only driver ever to win races in five decades 
     -  Oldest race winner in recorded Champ Car history with 1993 victory at  
        Phoenix (53 years, 34 days) 
     -  Named Driver of the Century by The Associated Press (December 10,  
        1999), tying with A.J. Foyt for this title. 
     -  Named Driver of the Century by RACER magazine (January, 2000) 
 
     Source: http://www.andretti.com

    /Web site:  http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/andretti  
                http://www.andretti.com /

For The Columbus Citizens Foundation, Andrew Decker, +1-212-222-4688, or Fax, +1-212-222-3188, Andrew.Decker@att.net; For Mario Andretti, Patty Reid, +1-651-454-4641, or Fax, +1-651-454-4785, PattyReid1@aol.com