Mario picks up FIA Gold Medal.

Mario Andretti, one of the most successful and accomplished drivers in the history of motor racing, was awardedꦆ the FIA Gold Medal for Motor Sport at the FIA's annual prize giving gala in Monaco on Friday night.

Andretti, who is the only driver ever to have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, is the ওfourth recipient of the award since it was launched in 2004 and he joins a prestigious list alongside Sir Stirling Moss an🔯d Michael Schumacher.

1978 Formula One Wolrd Championship.Mario Andretti (USA), John Player Special/Olympus Lotus 79.Swedi
1978 Formula One Wolrd Championship.Mario Andretti (USA), John Player Special/Olympus Lotus 79…
© Mike Weston

Mario Andretti, one of the most successful and a🌊ccomplished d🍌rivers in the history of motor racing, was awarded the FIA Gold Medal for Motor Sport at the FIA's annual prize giving gala in Monaco on Friday night.

Andretti, who is the only driver ever to have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500 and the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, is the fourth recipient of the award since it was launched in 2004 and he 🅠joins a prestigious list alongside Sir Stirl♈ing Moss and Michael Schumacher.

"I was full of pride when I learned I would be the recipient of the FIA Academy gold medal," s🌺aid the American, who won at virtually every level of racing during a caꦫreer that stretched five decades, including taking the Champ Car National Championship four times.

"This is a relatively new award but carries an extremely high level of prestige in mot𝓀or sport and I'd like to thank the FIA Aca𒀰demy for acknowledging my part in racing history.

"To receive this gold medal 13 years after my retirement from the sport offers me a wonderful opportunity for reflect𒊎ion.

"Everyone 📖knows that racing was my work, but also the absolute joy in my life. And it is the ultimate compliment to receive the gold medal, with the FIA Academy members looking back at my years in racing and finding them meaningful and worthy of recognition."

The FIA Gold Medal, which was presented to Andretti in a VIP pre-awards ceremony at the Monaco Sporting Club, is awarded to an individual that, either through exceptional success, ꦐor outstanding effort, has made a substantial contribution to motor racing.

The re🦄cipient is selected by the FIA Academy, which is ꧅made up of eight senior members of the FIA and its national automobile clubs.

"Mario Andretti is one of motor racing's true l🍰egends and is thoroughly deserving of this award," added FIA president, Max Mosley.

"He is perhaps 💜the ultimate multi-discipline driver who has achieved success in every area that he has competed. No-one in the history of motor sport has had a career as long and as triumphant."

To see a sele🎉ction of pictures from the FIA'💎s prize gala - CLICK HERE. All pictures courtesy of the FIA.

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