The winner of the 1969 Indy 500 and a multitude of other racing competitions over the last four decades was in Knoxville Tuesday, seeing the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum for the first time. Mario Andretti says he was excited to be in Knoxville right before the 49th Annual Superclean Knoxville Nationals, which kicks off Wednesday. Andretti told KNIA/KRLS News about growing up in Italy in a refugee camp in WWII and how it affected his racing career. He says he’s pleased three-time Nationals winner Donnie Schatz will be driving a tribute car which will have the design and colors of Andretti’s car which he drove to victory in the 1969 Indianapolis 500.

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