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Shelby Harris

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS- Andretti, a name that is historic throughout racing is battling something bigger than a race.

 

John Andretti, the veteran racer and 12-time competitor in the Indy 500 is battling stage 4 colorectal cancer.

 

"John is in a different race," Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said. "And not unlike his spirit and his fight, he has figured out a way to be a superhero in this new fight and this new race that he's on."

 

A few months ago, Andretti, 54, went to the doctor for a colonoscopy. A tumor was found and he was put into surgery almost immediately. He is now undergoing another treatment of chemotherapy, which has not been easy.

 

“The pump they put on me for two days is the worst thing for me. I hate that thing, because I have three days of chemo,” Andretti said. "I wake up in the middle of the night and I sit and listen to this pump going and know this pump is poison."

 

Andretti believes that if he would have gotten the colonoscopy at 50, the cancer would have never progressed to this point. He was always focused on his health, but now is pushing for a medical screening that could save other’s lives.

 

“We’ve not only taken people who were not getting colonoscopies to get them, but those people have become advocates for getting them done,” Andretti said. “That’s been the bigger part of it. It’s grown. … It’s almost like a mini-movement.”

 

His son, Jaret Andretti, pointed out to pit row to show just how much the racing community has gotten involved.

 

“If you look out at pit row you can see the Andretti crews with the “In it to Win it” shirts on,” Jaret said. “We were worried about keeping him (John) busy, but him being here is the best thing for him.”

 

Shirts that read “In It to Win It” on the front and “#checkit4andretti, Schedule Your Colonoscopy Today” on the back, were wore by all six Andretti Autosport cars entered into the 500. Many teams in pit lane also added a #checkit4andretti decal on their cars.

 

Being at the Indy 500 not only kept Andretti busy, but it also keeps him in high spirits.

 

“The fact that I got to be here for so many years and to race in the Indianapolis 500 is a gift…So this place is life to an Andretti,” Andretti said.