Legacies and dynasties come and go, but the Andretti legacy will never fade. Ever since Mario Andretti stepped into an IndyCar competition in 1964, he was already marking the start of his legendary open-wheel career. By the following year, he had already won his first race and captured his first USAC national championship.

But Mario didn’t stop there; he went on to rack up 3 more championships. And as time passed, his son Michael Andretti had also stepped into the scene, capturing the 1999 IndyCar title. But when it came down to Marco Andretti’s turn, things looked a bit different this time around.

On Wednesday, the 38-year-old grandson of racing icon Mario Andretti announced that he’s stepping away for good. “I have had some really fun times behind the wheel in a lot of different types of racing cars — a lot of great memories as well, mostly at the Indy 500,” he wrote, confirming that his final lap in the Indianapolis 500 had already been run. And now Team Penske’s IndyCar owner cannot help but share a few words of his own.

Roger Penske pens down his respect for the Andretti family’s legacy

In a heartwarming message on Instagram, Roger Penske said, “Marco, congratulations on 30 years in IndyCar racing. It was great to see your entry coming into this year’s 500. I’ve known the Andretti family all the way back when I was supposed to take a test at the Speedway. Couldn’t do it. And Mario came in, and that really was a legacy that the Andretti name has had for so many years. You’ve been a great driver. I remember 2006 when Hornish and you had that amazing finish. I know that probably sticks. In your car today that that wasn’t your race, but again, hopefully. In 2025, you’ll be in great equipment, I’m sure. Let’s see if you can get another one. All the best and terrific accomplishments during the last 30 years.” 

Marco’s decision means next year’s Indy 500 will be the first since 2005 without an Andretti on the grid, as silence seals the ‘Andretti Curse’ as almost eternal. For Marco, that weight was always there, the unspoken expectation that he might one day, and the family’s Indianapolis drought that began in 1970, the year after Mario’s lone victory.

He came agonizingly close as a rookie in 2006. And in one of the race’s most unforgettable finishes, Marco’s pass on his father seemed destined to deliver red redemption until Sam Hornish Jr. snatched the win at the line, extending the curse that seemed written in the family’s fate. Over 20 attempts at Indianapolis, he would finish third three times, but never first.

In his statement, he penned down his experience beautifully, saying, “I am proud of my overall stats at the Indy 500. I had six very legitimate shots at victory with Andretti Autosport and ended up with 20% top-3 finishes at the Speedway. It feels accomplishing to me to be able to retire having more podium finishes than my father Michael and the same as my grandfather Mario at the biggest race in the world. That is what the Indianapolis 500 produces: extremes on both ends. That is why I love and appreciate it so much.” 

Across 253 IndyCar starts spanning two decades, Marco won twice. He debuted at just 19, driving for his father’s team, then Andretti Autosport, now Andretti Global. But by the end of last season, Michael had been brought out of ownership, and new team boss Dan Towriss had no obligation to field Marco’s car. By then, Marco had already scaled back to part-time racing, choosing to run only the Indy 500 while dabbling in NASCAR and another series.

His final 500, however, was brutal. A crash on the fourth lap that left both Mario and Michael staring down in quiet resignation. Another Indy heartbreak. Another reminder that some stories in racing never find the perfect ending. But as Marco leaves the racing world behind, with a smile on his face, the 38-year-old has something else planned out.

Marco Andretti charts out his post-retirement plans

Marco Andretti has already aimed to keep himself busy. As he announced his retirement, he now shifts gears towards his daughter, Miura, and new business ventures, and a memoir in progress titled ‘Defending the Dynasty.’ The dynasty he speaks of stretches across generations.

His grandfather, Mario, remains a legend, the only driver to have conquered Indy, Daytona, and the Formula One world championship. Michael Andretti, the 38-year-old’s father, ranks fourth on IndyCar’s all-time win list with 42 victories, and though he never captured the Indy 500 as a driver, he won it five times as a team owner.

Still, Marco’s departure feels less like a loss and more like a release. He leaves behind his name forever etched into motorsport history, not just for victories, but for persistence, legacy, and the impossible pursuit of perfection. As he trades the roar of engines for the quiet rhythm of writing, perhaps defending the dynasty will be his way of finally taking control of a story that has always been larger than himself.