Andy Granatelli was an American businessman….who was most prominent as the CEO of STP…..as well as a major figure in automobile racing events….who was finally rewarded with an Indianapolis 500 winner in 1969…..when after his innovative Lotus four-wheel drive car was destroyed in practice upon establishing itself as one of the most dominants cars to date….and his driver Mario Andretti….while nursing the burns from the Lotus crash….would go on to win at the wheel of a year-old backup car….and before Andretti could be traditionally kissed in “Victory Lane” by the Queen of the “500 Festival” Granatelli got there first….and his joyful kiss on Andretti’s cheek is one of the 500’s most memorable images….as seen in this video herewith….however, rumor has it that the kiss began the infamous Indianapolis 500 curse that is named for Mario Andretti’s family…..which is so aptly covered by this video.
