Mario Andretti

As our writer and the city’s signature cultural event fell into peril, both looked to the Indianapolis 500’s 83-year-old owner for inspiration.

“In my mind, I never actually retired,” Aldo says. “I just stopped doing it. I guess I couldn’t admit to myself that it was over.”

Ladies and gentleman, start your arguments.

“The Indy 500 is one of the true iconic motorsport events, and to get to drive with a legend like Mario in this 100th race is indescribable,” Urban said in a statement.

Is it just us, or do all roads lead to Indiana’s—and the world’s—most famous racetrack? From Hawaii to Nazareth, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway leaves its tracks.

Celebrities walked the 2015 Indianapolis 500 red carpet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyCar drivers present and past gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for introductions ahead of the 2015 Indianapolis 500, as well as celebrities (Dave Letterman, Adam Carolla) and performers (Jordin Sparks, Straight No Chaser).

Up-close photos with current and former IndyCar drivers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ahead of the 2015 Indianapolis 500.

Spectators can expect to see a lot of familiar faces, according to a list of celebrities and notables released this morning.

An oral history of the funniest guy ever to call Indy home.

To pitch a movie in Hollywood, you need to be able to summarize the story in 25 words or less. Writer-director David Soren only needed nine: “Like The Fast and the Furious, but with snails.”

The Indy 500 celebrity announcements are coming fast and furious now. The 500 Festival just released a complete roster of notables set to attend Saturday’s IPL 500 Festival Parade (May 26, noon, downtown).

Earlier this week, May Madness reported that tickets to the Andretti Wine Dinner at Mo’s A Place for Steaks (47 S. Pennsylvania St., 624-0720) were going for $125 a pop. But evidently price was no object for the more than 150 diners who turned out last night to meet Mario Andretti and sit down to a four-course meal paired with wine from the racing legend’s own winery and vineyard in Napa Valley, California.

May Madness just learned this evening that a handful of tickets are still available to the exclusive Andretti Wine Dinner, to be held this Thursday (May 17, 7:30 p.m.) at Mo’s A Place for Steaks.

The tickets run $125 apiece. You get a four-course meal, pairings from the Andretti Winery in Napa Valley, and a photo-op meet-and-greet with racing legend Mario Andretti.

While supplies last.

Mo’s A Place for Steaks: 47 S. Pennsylvania St., 624-0720