Mario Andretti remembers nephew, John Andretti

Original airdate: 1/30/2020 | At his home in Nazareth, Indianapolis 500 winner Mario Andretti reminisced about his nephew, race car champion John Andretti.

The Bethlehem native had a versatile career that included victories in NASCAR, Indy Car and the Rolex 24 before retiring in 2010. John lost his battle with cancer Thursday at the age of 56.

Andretti got the the devastating phone call Thursday morning.

"You can never prepare for something, even as predictable as a situation like this you can never prepare for it," Andretti said.

Andretti says when John was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017, he vowed to fight back and use his voice to raise awareness about colon cancer. He even developed the hashtag #checkitforandretti to urge people to get screened.

#JohnAndretti

Read the full story at WFMZ.com:

[breakawaymotorsports]

I'm going in for my first colonoscopy tomorrow at 62yrs of age. Too many good people dying of this terrible disease. RIP John and if your message saves only one person...thank you and God bless.

RIP John, Loved to watch you race, First guy to do the Double. That can never be taken away, my friend.

[rodneycaupp]

John Andretti was perhaps the nicest guy to ever drive an Indy Car. I have a lot respect for all of the Andrettis. Thanks Guys, for the entertainment..., all the way back into the 60s.

[jamesdillard]

We lost a great guy and I got to meet him when he came to Portland Oregon. He was a great driver.

[rpllieb]

When I hear the name ANDRETTI, to me that means RACING !!! RIP young JOHN 💔

[scott]

John was a real wheel man and an overall nice guy. He will be sorely missed by family, friend and fan alike. RIP John.

[epiphonium]

The Andretti family is a total class act. I feel for Mario and the whole family. Maybe the greatest in all racing history.

[donaldheitger]

Sorry to hear about John, God Bless him and your whole family.

[hiperson]

Indianapolis sends love, prayers, and respect to the Andretti family. Such a good person - he will be missed and always remembered.

[halchesnut]

John REST IN PEACE I enjoyed watching you race over the years.

[geezer]

I think John was the "coolest" Andretti. Rest in peace John, may you travel faster still, through the heavens.

[joevald]

He left a great legacy . Don't look at what he didn't do look at what he did do . He was a total success and a true Andretti . My thoughts and prayers are with his family . But John is in a better place

[gclem]

Gonna miss you John, thanks for the memories

[richardmorris]

Sorry for your loss to all the andrettis.andretti & Earnhardt will always be my favorites.

[DougMcDave]

I met him, once at Ft. Harrison IN. What a great guy! He will be missed. I'm getting a checkup, next month.

[RandysRacingPlace]

And to think, just after this, he lost his twin brother, Aldo (John's father) and also lost his loving wife not that long after that. And yet, Mario presses on. Bless you, Mario. 😥😢😭😭😭🙂

[davidkyle]

John was such a good person, an excellent racer and just a great person to have in the various race series. I'm a huge Andretti fan and watched his career from the early days. We'll miss you John, god bless.

[thelowlyengineer]

John was a class act and will be missed. Multi discipline winner and my favorite driver. Got to see him race at the Indy 500, Brickyard 400, and at IRP Busch series.

[nylaryn]

R.I.P. John ... sending lots of prayers to the Andretti Family ♥

[kellienicolebrooksschettin]

Mario deepest respects to u guys John was always one of my favorite s I have a friend in Bethlehem PA knows u guys Metz ...I was on the phone with Petty in 1991 looking for a job and before I finished talking to Dale Inman I mentioned to him how I believed his driver was not on his game....and who ended up driving the car for most of the year John of all people....god bless he and I are the same age I will be 56 two more months....sorry for ur loss