The name Andretti is synonymous with auto racing throughout the world.  Mario Andretti did not just win the Indianapolis 500, he was also a star in Formula One, winning the World Driving Championship.

Mario’s son Michael has always been described as the one with the business acumen in the family.  Michael could never get that Indy 500 win as a driver, but cars he owns have entered victory lane 5 times at Indy.

Andretti Motorsports is making a bid to be part of Formula One and we will see where that goes.  Any future Formula One Andretti team is expected to be headquartered in the Fishers facility.

The announcement Monday that Andretti Motorsports is constructing its world headquarters in Fishers was a mammoth win for Mayor Scott Fadness and his economic development team.

I have received a couple of questions about this announcement.

First, where exactly on the airport property will the complex be built?  City officials say it will be at the southeast corner of the property – along Hague Rd. just south of Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve and along the Nickel Plate Trail.

The second question that has arisen deals with how the development may impact the wildlife at Ritchey Woods.  According to the City of Fishers, part of the Andretti company’s interest in that location is being next to Ritchey Woods.  “It will not encroach on the boundary and Andretti has strong interest in supporting/preserving the adjacent land and incorporating sustainability into this project,” according to city spokesperson Ashley Elrod. “They specifically mention the Nature First program in their release as a future benefit and collaboration.”

When Mayor Scott Fadness told me in a recent podcast that there was a project coming to Fishers that is “downright cool,” I suspect this is the one.