So, it’s not every day you get the last American World Champion, the current and three-time World Champion, and a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion - three of the best drivers of all-time - in one place.
Yet that’s exactly what happened just now in Miami, when 1978 Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti and 2008, 2014 and 2015 World Champion Lewis Hamilton have joined Jeff Gordon, as Gordon prepares for his 797th and final NASCAR start, still in search of his fifth career championship.
Both drivers are starting the race on Gordon’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports pit box.
Andretti said Gordon is his pick to win the championship; see below. Gordon starts fifth for today’s Ford 400.
Who is racing legend @marioandretti picking to win today...?#24ever https://t.co/Rv4DFms8ps
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 22, 2015
Check out a few images below.
Whhhhaaatttt!! @MarioAndretti @JeffGordonWeb @LewisHamilton @NASCAR @F1 😎👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/RvkLz0I4b2
— Martin 🏁 (@MartyMcFLYS) November 22, 2015
A special moment between racing legends, @JeffGordonWeb & @MarioAndretti. #24Ever pic.twitter.com/WvXfrq0AWo
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 22, 2015
#F1 champion, @LewisHamilton, chats with @JeffGordonWeb before the #FordEcoBoost400. #24Ever pic.twitter.com/7F8zsMW73c
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 22, 2015
2 of the greatest! #24EVER pic.twitter.com/fgrfYL2vBj
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 22, 2015
While the legends are there, they’re not the only ones.
A handful of IndyCar drivers (Josef Newgarden, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe) have also made the trip to Homestead-Miami Speedway to see Gordon’s last start.
The boys of #IndyCar; @josefnewgarden, @Hinchtown & @MarcoAndretti! #FordEcoBoost400 pic.twitter.com/cN6pt9hjxl
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 22, 2015