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Racing with Mario Andretti at Grand Prix of Long Beach

Racing with Mario Andretti at Grand Prix of Long Beach

5:58·By Gemma G
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About this video

YH is back for another Grand Prix of Long Beach with some of the biggest names in racing, including the legendary Mario Andretti, who actually takes us on the ride of a lifetime! Graham Rahal gives us some advice before we suit up, and afterwards, we catch up with some other IndyCar luminaries such as Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves!

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Young Hollywood

Hey guys, Leslie Robbins here for Young Hollywood back at the Long Beach Grand Prix. From driving in a two-seater with Mario Andretti, hi Mario, to dancing with Helio Castroneves, it has been one amazing day with IndyCar. I am with the man, one of the greatest racecar drivers in history. Mario Andretti. Last time I interviewed you, Dodger Stadium a couple years ago.

Mario Andretti

Girl, you haven't aged a bit.

Young Hollywood

Neither have you, your hair has not changed. Still perfect as ever. So, basically you are driving me in a two-seater today. And I don't think there is anyone else I would trust behind the wheel than you. You're the greatest driver ever.

Mario Andretti

Now you made my day. I just hope you enjoy it. We'll be very close to the walls, so it's not a problem. That's the way it usually is done. Yeah. And uh, and we'll try to have some fun out there.

Young Hollywood

Now, does this ever get old?

Mario Andretti

Never. Never, never. Just love coming back here always.

Young Hollywood

Okay. Show me the way. So now I'm in this trailer with my fire suit about to lose my mind. Graham Rahal. Famous racecar driver. Dad. Epic. Hey. What's happening? How are you?

Graham Rahal

I'm good, you? Good to see you here.

Young Hollywood

Thank you. Okay, Mario Andretti is about to take me on a ride. All right. And who better to instruct me on how to breathe and be prepared? Than you.

Graham Rahal

I can try. I've never gone on a ride with Mario Andretti.

Young Hollywood

I'm told I'm supposed to sign my life away.

Graham Rahal

Yeah, I think uh, I think you have to. I don't know

Young Hollywood

This is what they call the fine print. Okay, sign, done.

Graham Rahal

First of all you gotta put that on. This is perfect. Yeah. I don't even know that mine are fitted that well and I've tried for years. As you're going down the front straight, just like try to like breathe. You know, breathe slowly. With Mario driving. You're guaranteed to get a thrill. He's gonna go fast. He's gonna try to push it hard to impress you, so. You'll have a lot of fun.

Young Hollywood

I'm on the track. Mario's car. If you look to my left, there's a fireman with a fire extinguisher. Just in case. Mario Andretti is here. He's gonna take care of me, right? Don't worry. How do I look? Famous last words. Uh, I love you mom and dad and Dennis and Barry and Dara. There are no handles. I'm in. I'm so strapped in I feel safe. Here we go. We're going! We're going! Thank you Mario! Hey. Simon of Team Penske, you're my first interview after getting out of the car with Mario Andretti. How much fun was that?

Simon

I don't know if I would use the word fun to describe it. More like death. Uh, you just don't know what's gonna happen and you have to close your eyes and hope for the best. I'm sure you may be a bit shaken up right now. It was your first time. So, yeah you you went up to 200 and eighty miles an hour on the straight.

Young Hollywood

Obviously racing is a passion of yours, but you're also passionate about wine. Do the two mix?

Simon

I hope not together. Not together of course, never do that. But uh, I love life. And I love drinking wine and and enjoying the nice, tasteful things of life. So um, it's amazing. You know, as a as a person, human being. I'm 30 years old now. And I've been living my my dream, my whole life, since I'm 8 years old. That's Team Penske Indica. That's exactly where I wanted to be. What an amazing life it is, you know.

Young Hollywood

Helio, the man of the hour. Nice to see you again.

Helio Castroneves

It's great to be back.

Young Hollywood

Where are we? It's pretty amazing behind me by the way.

Helio Castroneves

That's right. This is my car by the way. But it's right inside Team Penske uh uh garage. And uh, this is what happens. We go out to the track, and when we come back, we use this area here to fix the cars. And the good news is we have a great team here and the guys are first class operation. It's uh, it's a becoming a family at the end of the day.

Young Hollywood

So I was talking to your teammates, I'm his for his passion is wine. Outside of racing and dancing. It's my family. What's your passion?

Helio Castroneves

Uh, my little girl. I love my little girl. She's five. It's amazing because no matter what happens here, when you go back home, she opened the smile, "Daddy!" I was like, "Yes, this is awesome."

Young Hollywood

Let me take you back to our last interview here. Okay. A couple years ago, we danced.

Helio Castroneves

Yes.

Young Hollywood

And you taught me the figure eight. I do remember that. Do you still got that?

Helio Castroneves

Oh, the figure eight. We have it.

Young Hollywood

Still got that, right? Uh, yes. Okay, I think now we need to do a bit of choreography. Oh boy. Let's like create something, add something to the figure eight. One, two, three, pa, pa, pa, pa, pa! Voila! See you later.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Mario Andretti

    Legendary race car driver who takes Leslie for a ride

  • Graham Rahal

    Race car driver who offers advice before the ride

  • Simon Pagenaud

    IndyCar driver interviewed after the ride

  • Helio Castroneves

    IndyCar driver interviewed about his passions

  • Leslie Robbins

    Young Hollywood host experiencing the Grand Prix

  • Dennis

    Mentioned by Leslie as she prepares for the ride

  • Barry

    Mentioned by Leslie as she prepares for the ride

  • Dara

    Mentioned by Leslie as she prepares for the ride

FAQ

Who takes Leslie Robbins for a ride in a two-seater racecar?+
Leslie Robbins is taken for a ride in a two-seater racecar by legendary driver Mario Andretti.
Which race car driver gives advice before the ride?+
Graham Rahal gives advice to Leslie Robbins before she goes for a ride with Mario Andretti.
Which drivers are interviewed after the racecar ride?+
After the racecar ride, Leslie Robbins interviews IndyCar drivers Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves.
What is Simon Pagenaud passionate about besides racing?+
Simon Pagenaud is passionate about wine in addition to racing.
What is Helio Castroneves passionate about?+
Helio Castroneves is passionate about his family, especially his five-year-old daughter, in addition to racing and dancing.

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