Mario Andretti: Family will break Indy 500 curse 'sooner or later'

The Andretti family addresses their Indianapolis 500 curse, believes the next victory will come "sooner or later"

One of the most famous families in racing will try their luck again this weekend at the 99th Indianapolis 500, as they look to break a five-decade curse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mario Andretti, the 1969 Indy 500 winner, says he believes that his family will get over the curse "sooner or later."

His son Michael and grandson Marco have each come close to taking the checkered flag. The three racers have just the one victory combined in 53 starts.

Marco lost the 2006 race by .0635 seconds after being passed by Sam Hornish, Jr. less than 500 yards from the finish line.

Mario sits at third place for all-time laps led at the Indy 500 and Michael holds the record for having led the most laps without a victory at the racetrack. 

The closest Michael has finished is third in 1986. He finished fourth in 1984 and 1995 and stopped racing in the event after 2007.

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"We have shown that we can do it, we can win," Mario Andretti said on SI NOW. "There are some things that we can’t control. Pressure is good….and sooner or later it’s going to be our day."

This year, Marco Andretti will start eighth after qualifying with an average speed of 225.189.

Marco Andretti says there is pressure in the race every year, especially after not winning it.

"It’s my 10th season," he said. "Every year it’s sort of magnified for me, every year we’re not victorious there. We just have to keep the frustration from sitting in too much and just realize that we have good shot at it every year."

- Scooby Axson