Mario Andretti Denies Intentionally Stalling To Help Son At Indy

INDIANAPOLIS - Mario Andretti denies intentionally stalling his car to force a yellow caution flag and give his son Michael a final chance to catch Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears.

"All I did was warn Michael. I didn't create anything. All I did was warn the team that it was going to happen," Mario Andretti said yesterday after reports quoted him as telling his pit crew he could create a yellow flag if his son and teammate needed one.

Spectators and news photographers monitoring scanner radios claimed to hear Mario ask his crew whether a yellow was needed.

One newspaper reported that a staff member heard Andretti say to his crew: "Does Michael need a yellow? I can create one."