I knew about Mario even though I didn't really follow anything in CART/Indy other than the 500, but I knew he had run for KMart. My son worked for KMart in Columbia SC while he was in college, and when they and Little Caesar's started the team, John became my NASCAR guy, because I did follow NASCAR. And I always pull for underdogs. It was better when he went to Cale/RCA, and then to Reecherd, which probably would have been great if they hadn't started with those damned Dodges. (I'm driving a Grand Caravan now, and have had Dodges and Plymouths over the years.) That effort just wasn't what it was in the earlier years. The 8-ball just got bigger and bigger and PE never had enough money, and then lost their f-ing minds and let him go.

But you just couldn't find a nicer, better guy to follow, and I enjoyed it, without a lot to show, for the rest of the time. Never another one like him for sure.