COTA Dedicating Turn to F1 Champ and Racing Great Mario Andretti

The 1978 Formula 1 world champion to be immortalized at Circuit of the Americas with Turn 20 named in his honor.

• This week, Circuit of the Americas will name Turn 20 “The Andretti” in honor of racing legend Mario Andretti.
• While Andretti, 82, never raced at COTA, he did turn the first lap there in 2012 and has served as a race ambassador to the F1 United States Grand Prix at the facility located in Austin, Texas.
• F1 returns to COTA for the United States Grand Prix weekend, Oct. 21-23.

Mario Andretti never raced at Circuit of the Americas.

Then again, it wasn’t Andretti’s fault that the facility purpose built for Formula 1 didn’t even open until the racing legend turned 72 years old. Now 82, Andretti is still picking up honors and tributes. Today, Circuit of America officials announced that Turn 20 on the racing circuit will be named “The Andretti.”

Turn 20 can be seen at the top of the main straight in from of the grandstand at Circuit of the Americas.

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Andretti does have some history at the track. He drove the first laps on the track when it opened in 2012. the 1978 Formula 1 world champion has also served as a COTA ambassador.

The naming ceremony will be held on Oct. 20 at the track, ahead of the weekend’s F1 Aramco United States Grand Prix. The race will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the facility at Austin, Texas.

Turn 20 is the final turn of the 3.41-mile track in Austin, Texas. With views down the main straight, the start and finish line, and up into the famed hill of Turn 1, “The Andretti” is a sharp left into the homestretch in front of the main Grandstand and paddock.

Mike Pryson Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011.