"My bucket list is pretty much satisfied, anything that we do after this will be icing on the cake," said 82-year-old motorsport legend Mario Andretti after his run onboard a McLaren MP4-28 at Laguna Seca on Saturday.
The 1978 F1 World Champion's big on-track moment had come courtesy of McLaren boss Zak Brown holding his end of a bargain struck on the grid of last May's inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
When Andretti expressed burning desire to "have a go" at the wheel of a modern F1 car, Brown vowed to put Mario in a car for a few demo laps at the US Grand Prix in Austin.
But McLaren eventually decided to roll out Andretti's ride - a 2013 Mercedes-powered MP4-28 - one week ahead of time at this weekend's Velocity Invitational historic event at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, the scene of Andretti's final IndyCar race in 1994.
After a seat fitting and debrief on Friday, Andretti took to the track on Saturday, the octogenarian running alongside two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen in a 1984 ex-Alain Prost McLaren MP4/2.
It was a joy ride for the twelve-time Grand Prix winner, but also one that predictably left him craving for more
"It's sweet but obviously I left a lot on the table," Andretti told RACER, as competitive as ever.
"It's all about getting the proper gearing and some of the problem for me was the way my helmet was vis-á-vis my steering wheel. I couldn't see the numbers on my downshift!
"In some corners I got it right and in others I didn't.
"In general, though, it is what I expected. It's a sweet feeling for a driver, so satisfying. The car just does what it should do in a big way versus what I've experienced in my career.
"That's really what I wanted to get the feel of, and I did. If I don't do another lap I know what I'm talking about."
Andretti concluded my suggesting his run with the McLaren had also fulfilled an administrative objective.
The Flying Finn @F1MikaHakkinen meets @MarioAndretti at #LagunaSeca in a pair of @McLarenF1. Does it get better? #F1 pic.twitter.com/aXtKxP3huv
— Goodwood FOS (@fosgoodwood) October 15, 2022
"I’m trying to get points for my Superlicence!"
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