Andretti
with the
author.
Yema Rallye Andretti
Commemorative Medal
Yema Rallye Andretti Case Back
Back then, almost the entire month of May was taken up with the Indy 500
testing, practice and qualifying events. I wore my new Yema chronograph
every day in Indianapolis.
DID YOU WEAR THAT YEMA WHILE YOU WERE RACING IN AND
WINNING THE ACTUAL 1969 INDY 500 RACE?
Yes I did. Many race drivers never wear a watch during a race but I always
did. I have always been very much a detail-oriented person and a very punc-
tual person, so during the hours before a race, when I am already in my
driver’s suit, a great many things must be done on a tight schedule and I
would constantly refer to my wrist watch to keep right on that schedule.
I am also a perfectionist, so I always keep the watch I’m wearing within
one or two seconds of Observatory time. I always kept my watch on my wrist
during every race although, obviously, you would never look at your watch
while you’re driving a racecar at more than 200 miles per hour!
HOW DID THIS NEW YEMA MARIO ANDRETTI INDY 500 COMMEM-
ORATIVE WATCH COME ABOUT?
A few years ago the officers and managers of Yema in France saw a photo-
graph of me from 1969 where I am talking with Colin Chapman at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and they recognized that I was wearing their
Yema chronograph. They realized that the 50th anniversary of my Indy 500
win was approaching, so they contacted me and proposed making a limited
edition Mario Andretti 50th anniversary chronograph to commemorate my
1969 Indy 500 win.
I agreed and gave my permission. I was closely involved with every
detail of the new watch. The Yema team has created an extremely faithful
commemorative reproduction of my original 1969 watch that I wore while
winning the Indy 500, and I think watch collectors will like it and will enjoy
owning it and wearing it. I couldn’t be more pleased with the way it turned
out.
Mario Andretti at the Indy 500 in 1969.
SUMMER 2019 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 95