INDIANAPOLIS —
Roaring at high speeds around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May is a race fan’s dream.
For Joe Claretto, thanks to a surprise Christmas gift from his son, Greg, that dream came true last week — less than a week before the May 29 scheduled running of the Indianapolis 500, which is the 100th anniversary of the race.
“Everyone in my family knew what was happening except me,” Claretto, 78, said as he stood next to the pit exit at the IMS on Monday morning. Dressed in a black racing suit and holding his black racing helmet, Claretto was waiting for his first of three rides around the track in a two-seat Indy car as part of the Indy Racing Experience.
Greg Claretto wanted to give his father, a retired pharmacist from Terre Haute, something very special for Christmas last year. The Indy Racing Experience seemed like the perfect gift for a man who is attending his 55th-consecutive Indianapolis 500 today.
“This is a ‘thank you’ for bringing us to all these races,” Greg Claretto said when asked why he chose this gift for his dad. Joe started taking his three sons to the race in the early 1970s.
Last Monday was a “Legends Day” for the Indy Racing Experience, meaning the drivers piloting the two-seater Indy cars were some of the biggest names in the history of motor racing. In this case, the drivers all were former Indy 500 champions: Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford and Arie Luyendyk. This came as a big surprise for Joe, who assumed the drivers would be much less prominent.
“I had no idea,” Joe said while waiting in the warm May sunshine for his first ride. “It blew my mind.”
Mario Andretti — because of a shared Italian heritage — is a special favorite of Joe Claretto’s. At the Indy Racing Experience, Joe got several opportunities to talk to his long-time racing hero. During one of those conversations, Joe mentioned all the times Andretti, the 1969 Indy 500 winner, had run well at the Brickyard without capturing the checkered flag. If the May classic were 400 miles in length instead of 500, Andretti would have won the event six times, the long-time driver told Claretto.
In addition to his Indy 500 victory, Andretti, 71, also won the Formula One championship in 1978 and the Daytona 500 in 1967. He is the only person ever to have won the Indy 500, the Daytona 500, the Formula One title and the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) title in his career.
Greg, 49, was the first of the Clarettos to take a ride in one of the two-seaters last Monday. His driver was Andretti.
“Mario got on it,” said Greg, who grew up in Terre Haute but now lives in Bloomington, after emerging from his speedy two-lap trip. “I couldn’t imagine doing that for 200 laps.”
Those getting rides in the Indy Racing Experience awaited their turns at the exit to pit row. Andretti, Rutherford and Luyendyk would bring their racing machines to a stop at the end of pit lane, open their visors for fresh air and wait while their passenger climbed out and a new rider was helped into the back seat. Once the helmeted passengers were secured in their seats by Indy Racing Experience officials, the drivers would hit their accelerators and the two-lap rides would begin.
Joe Claretto’s first ride was with Luyendyk, 57, the winner of the 1990 and 1997 Indy 500s. Unfortunately, Luyendyk’s car experienced gear box problems on Claretto’s ride and was unable to get up to speed. It was the only mechanical problem all day and Claretto was given an extra ride later in the day with Luyendyk at full speed to make up for it.
Claretto’s next ride was with Rutherford, 73, who was sporting his “Lone Star J.R.” helmet. Rutherford, who won the Indy 500 three times, took the elder Claretto around the two-and-a-half mile track in about 1 minute, including accelerating, making an average speed of about 150 miles per hour. Then, Claretto rode with his favorite driver, Andretti. Mario’s quick lap — including accelerating from a standing start — lasted just 50 seconds, making an average speed of 180 mph.
“Mario drove just like he always raced,” Joe said after the ride. “He doesn’t have an intermediate speed. It’s gung-ho and go.”
After all of the approximately 60 Indy Racing Experience riders were finished with their trips around the track, the long day, which had included meals and photograph sessions, was drawing to an end. Each participant received a plaque, a cap and a shirt, and they also got to keep the helmets they wore on their rides.
“They all signed my helmet,” Joe said of racing legends who escorted him around the famed oval. During the autograph period at the end of the day, Claretto found himself with a few additional seconds to speak to Andretti. By that time, the two men were calling each other “Compaesano” — the Italian word for fellow countryman.
“I’ve been blessed in my life,” Joe told Andretti, who was seated at the autograph table. “I’ve always said there are five days in my life I will never forget.” Those days were the day Claretto married his late wife, Martha Jean; the day he found Jesus; and each of the three days his sons were born, he told Andretti.
“Now, I’ve added a sixth day,” Claretto told a visibly pleased Andretti. “I will never, ever, ever forget this day. It was just fantastic.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Top Story
Related Videos
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Living a dream: Joe Claretto waves as he zips by in the IZOD car at the Indy Racing Experience. At top, Claretto stands in line waiting to take his ride around the track with Mario Andretti.
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Ready to go: Joe Claretto stands in line waiting to take his ride around the track with Mario Andretti.
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Gearing up: Greg Claretto (left) helps his father Joe Claretto with his helmet as Joe prepares to go a lap with one of his racing heroes, Mario Andretti.
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Taking time: Mario Andretti (left) takes a minute to pose with fan Joe Claretto at the Indy Racing Experience.
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Taking a load off: Joe Claretto turns in his race suit after an amazing day at the track.
-
Tribune-Star/Rachel Keyes Loading up: Joe Claretto loads up into Mario Andretti’s car and prepares to go 180 miles an hour around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Discussion
It’s a dream come true for long-time Indy 500 fan (See VIDEO)
- Top Story
-
-
10 Things to Know for Thursday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
AAA: 31.2M drivers to take Memorial Day road trip
It's going to be another busy Memorial Day weekend on the nation's highways. From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA.
-
UK PM: Brutal London attack appears to be terror
LONDON — A brutal attack in broad daylight near a military barracks in London left one man dead and two suspects hospitalized Wednesday after a shootout with police. British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack appeared to be terror related.
-
VIDEO: Orlando shootout tied to Boston bomb suspect
The FBI says it was involved in a fatal shooting near Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports that the victim was a friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombing.
-
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Afternoon Update: Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma
The storm killed at least 24 people, including at least nine children.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Update: Oklahoma, other tornado-hit states brace for more
SHAWNEE, Okla. — When Lindsay Carter heard on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, she gathered her belongings and fled. When she returned, there was little left.
-
Taylor Swift wins 8 trophies at Billboard Awards
LAS VEGAS — Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards.
-
10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday, May 20:
-
$590M-plus Powerball: 1 winning ticket sold in Florida
DES MOINES, Iowa — It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials said Sunday.
-
Powerball jackpot closing in on another record
DES MOINES, Iowa — Less than 10 months after three tickets split a world-record lottery prize, the jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing was nearing historic territory once again.
-
N.Y. Giants honor Weatherford as ‘Man of the Year’
Dan Tanoos, superintendent of Vigo County schools, remembers the first time he saw Steve Weatherford as a freshman at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
-
UPDATE: Fire damages buildings in downtown Greencastle
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Fire badly damaged several buildings today near the courthouse square in Greencastle, with flames shooting through the roofs as firefighters from several communities were called in to the central Indiana city to help.
-
10 tornadoes whip through North Texas; 6 dead
Ten tornadoes touched down in several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens injured and hundreds homeless. Emergency responders were still searching for missing people Thursday afternoon.
-
MARK BENNETT: Local summer music series idea remains a good one
One-of-a-kind ideas happen rarely.
As the biblical adage goes, there is nothing new under the sun. We humans succeed occasionally, inventing electricity, automobiles, telephones and the Internet. Invariably, though, someone else insists, “Hey, my grandpa thought of that years before Edison.” -
Jolie: 'I do not feel any less of a woman'
Angelina Jolie says that she has had a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene that made it extremely likely she would get breast cancer.
-
10 Things to Know for Tuesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Abortion doctor guilty in 3 babies' deaths
An abortion doctor was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and could face execution in the deaths of three babies who were born alive and then killed with scissors at his grimy, "house of horrors" clinic.
-
IHS announces lineup for Concerts on the Canal, reprise of 'Museum Nights on the Canal'
INDIANAPOLIS —There are plenty of ways to enjoy downtown Indianapolis in the summer, and the Indiana Historical Society is offering two — both time-honored favorite Concerts on the Canal and its Museum Nights on the Canal program.
-
Small tornado causes minor damage in southern Vigo County
Riley firefighters had just heard on the emergency scanner Thursday night that a tornado was nearby when they looked west of their firehouse on Indiana 159 and saw one traveling northwest across a field.
-
Update: Cleveland man arraigned on rape, kidnap charges
A Cleveland man was arraigned Thursday on charges of rape and kidnapping after three women missing for about a decade and one of their young daughters were found alive at his home earlier in the week.
-
Arias says in interview that she wants death
The jury has rendered its verdict — Jodi Arias is guilty of first-degree murder — but the trial is far from finished.
-
UPDATE: Mistrial declared in second Boswell murder trial
A second mistrial was declared this morning for a Riley man accused of the 1979 slaying of 20-year-old Kathy Jo Baker. Richard L. Boswell Jr., 55, was released today from the Vigo County Jail, where he had been held since his October 2010 arrest on charges of murder and attempted murder.
-
Deming Elementary second-grader receives new heart
The long wait for Katelyn Newell has finally ended. Wednesday evening, she successfully underwent heart transplant surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
-
Levee fails, Wabash River floodwaters inundate Prairieton farmland
A Vigo County official says a levee has failed near the flooded Wabash River, allowing floodwaters to inundate farmland near the town of Prairieton and isolating about two dozen homes.
-
Boston bombings probe turns to wider terrorist ties
Authorities said they will examine every scrap of evidence, including text messages and cell phone calls, to determine if an organized terrorist group encouraged two brothers from Russia to plant bombs at the Boston Marathon, then engage police in two bloody shootouts before one was killed and the other captured Friday.
-
UPDATE: Boston police: Bombing suspect is in custody
A 19-year-old college student wanted in the Boston Marathon bombings was taken into custody Friday evening after a manhunt that left the city virtually paralyzed and his older brother and accomplice dead.
- More Top Story Headlines
-
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Today in History May 22
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Today in History May 23
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
