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MARIO ANDRETTI RECEIVES SPIRIT OF COMPETITION AWARD AT SIMEONE AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM DEDICATION

November 19, 2008 by Simeone Foundation Museum

Mario Andretti - the driver many feel is the greatest that ever raced - received the first annual 'Spirit of Competition' Award at the dedication of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum this evening. The award was presented to Mr. Andretti by Mr. Vermeil, former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Museum was dedicated by the Honorable Michael A. Nutter, mayor of the City of Philadelphia.

The new Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum contains over 60 of the rarest and most significant racing sports cars in the world, and opened to the public last June. The central theme of the Simeone Foundation collection is 'the spirit of competition.'

'No other driver represents the spirit of competition better than Mario,' said Dr. Fred Simeone, executive director of the Museum. 'He told me he never started a race he didn't feel he would win.'

Andretti was presented with a plaque containing a replica of Alberto Ascari's competition driving license of, Andretti's boyhood hero. In addition, he received a 1948 Hudson painted to match the first race car he and his brother Aldo built in America.

In addition to presenting the award, Mr. Vermeil also brought a sprint car that had been raced by his father, Louis Vermeil, in Northern California races. 'Seeing Mario sit in my father's car brought tears to my eyes. I could see my dad looking down and smiling.'

Also on display was a car built by the students of the West Philly Hybrid X-Team of the Philadelphia Academies Inc., based at West Philadelphia High School Academy for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. The students are the only high school in the country entered in the upcoming Automotive X-Prize competition.

Mario Andretti is often referred to as the greatest racecar driver of all time, having proven himself a winner at all levels of competition. Born in Italy, he came to America at an early age where he and his twin brother Aldo made a name for themselves on Pennsylvania dirt tracks. Since then he has won almost every type of race there is, and is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), the Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Drivers Championship (1978). In 2000, Andretti was named the 'Driver of the Century' by both the Associated Press and Racer magazine.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to educate the public on the beneficial effects of the 'spirit of competition.' Encompassing many of the most significant racing sports cars ever built, the exhibition shows the dramatic technological evolution that has resulted from seven decades of competition, leading to better automotive design and safer driving techniques. The Museum is located at 6825-31 Norwitch Drive, Philadelphia. Pa., 19153. For more information on the museum, call 215-365-SAFE (7233), or visit the Museum's Web site at: http://www.simeonemuseum.org. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. Children under 8 are admitted free.

posted on conceptcarz.com

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