INDY DIARIES: Irrepressible Andy Granatelli

Over 99 runnings, the Indianapolis 500 has become the most famous event in motorsport. That iconic status is built on a bedrock of hundreds of small stories, and to celebrate the centennial race, RACER.com has asked some of the people who are part of Indy's fabric to share a few of those stories with us. Check back every day between now and race day for a new 'Indy Diary' entry.

He was larger than life, literally and figuratively, and one of those mercurial, dynamic characters that auto racing desperately needs right now.

Andy Granatelli gave the Indianapolis 500 his heart and soul for the better part of four decades, whether he was trying to drive, fielding the star-crossed Novi, shaking up the establishment with the turbine or putting STP on the map.

He was a masterful promoter, brilliant businessman and spirit of those wild, wonderful 1960s at Indy.

"Andy didn't look through the same set of eyes that everyone else did," said three-time Indy winner Bobby Unser, who got his start in 1963 with Granatelli. "While we were looking at next year, he was looking waaaaaay down the road a few years ahead of everyone else. He was an amazing person."

Even though he won Indy twice with Mario Andretti (top) and Gordon Johncock, part of his fame was his gut-wrenching losses. Parnelli Jones was six laps away from an easy victory in 1967 when the revolutionary turbine broke down and Joe Leonard was leading with eight laps left in 1968 (above left) when his turbine conked out.

"Andy cried like a little baby in 1967 and I felt terrible because he'd snookered everyone with his idea and deserved to win," said Jones, who was paid $100,000 by Andy to drive the turbine and led 171 laps that day.

As he was instituting fresh ideas on the competition side, Andy was also changing the face of the racing business. In an era when sponsorship was small potatoes, he pushed the STP Corporation into a new age of identification and awareness. Whether it was commercials, STP pajamas or STP stickers on every school boy's lunchbox, he was a marketing maven.

"Andy did more for the promotion of Indy car racing than anybody at any time," continued Jones. "He had Johnny Carson drive my turbine around the Speedway – think about that.

"He was also a domineering personality but that's what made him such a great businessman. He was always thinking and had so many fresh ideas. And he was as famous as most of the drivers."