Mario Andretti. Just the name alone conjures images of speed, grit, and an unrelenting passion for racing. At 85, America's most iconic racing driver is still going flat out, and we had the privilege of catching up with him to reflect on an astonishing life behind the wheel.

What makes a driver truly great? For Andretti, it wasn't just one discipline—it was conquering them all. From the dusty mid-west dirt tracks of the early 1960s to the hallowed asphalt of Formula 1, Indycar, sports cars, NASCAR, and even the treacherous Pikes Peak (which he won in 1969), Andretti drove everything and won everywhere. He's the definition of a motorsport all-rounder, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends like Stirling Moss.

Let's talk numbers, because his trophy cabinet is practically a museum. F1 World Champion in 1978 with 12 Grand Prix victories. Indianapolis 500 winner in 1969. Four Indycar titles. A Silver Crown dirt oval championship in 1974. Daytona 500 winner in 1967, plus the track's big sports car race in 1972. Three Sebring 12 Hours wins. And while Le Mans' overall victory eluded him, his second-place finish in 1995—at age 55—came with a class win, and he counts it proudly.

But Andretti isn't just about the past. Today, he remains deeply devoted to the sport through his son Michael's racing empire and as an enthusiastic ambassador for the new Cadillac F1 team. He's still sharp, still passionate, and still an interviewer's dream. So, where do you start with a man who has seen it all? We asked him about a few of his favorite things.

Andretti's F1 journey began with a bang—a sensational pole position on his debut for Lotus at Watkins Glen in 1968. His first Grand Prix win came in 1971 for Ferrari in South Africa, but it wasn't until the mid-1970s, when he fully committed to Lotus, that he truly made his mark. Ask him about his favorite car, and he doesn't hesitate: the Lotus 78, the first full ground-effect F1 machine. "I think 1977 would have been an easier championship than 1978, but we had some reliability issues, a lot of them with the engine," he recalls, a hint of what-if in his voice. It's that blend of triumph and near-miss that makes his story so compelling.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or just discovering the legend, Mario Andretti's career is a masterclass in versatility, determination, and pure love for the race. And at 85, he's showing no signs of slowing down.