Track News: COTA names Turn 20 “The Andretti”

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) announced today that it will officially dedicate Turn 20 to Italian-born, American racing legend and former COTA ambassador, Mario Andretti. An official naming ceremony attended by the legendary driver will take place at the soon to be re-named Turn 20 on the eve of the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025.

Renowned as perhaps the most versatile racer of all time, Andretti is one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula 1, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. In addition to his many accolades and achievements, he also drove the first-ever lap of COTA when it opened in 2012.

Mario Andretti took the checkered flag 111 times during his career—a career that spanned five decades. He was named Driver of the Year in three different decades (the 60s, 70s, 80s), Driver of the Quarter Century (in the 90s), and the Associated Press named him Driver of the Century in January 2000.

Turn 20—renamed ‘The Andretti’—is the last 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, technical maneuver into an avenue of speed. The Main Grandstand and Paddock also border the turn, allowing motorsport enthusiasts to revel in the pure velocity of high-performance vehicles streaking past.

The official ‘The Andretti’ naming ceremony will take place on Thursday, 16 October at 5pm at Circuit of the Americas’ Turn 20.