INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) -- "It's a total tragedy," Mario Andretti said.
"Loss for words and don't know what to really say because it's so raw and such a surprise," Jimmie Johnson.
"He's a close friend and everybody I think we are shocked and very sad," Takuma Sato said.
The death of Kyle Busch rocked the racing world this week, especially for legend Mario Andretti… who saw Busch just two days before his death.
"It was full of energy," Andretti said. "He drove around on a car track that we have, a three-level car track with his son. Everything was normal. It's just hard to even fathom something like that. It was a giant in the sport, no question. I mean, the legacy will be there forever."
7-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson had a front row seat for that legendary career.
"Such a talent," Johnson said. "I think they had to adjust the rules and make it for an 18-year-old to compete because Kyle was ready to come before and the insurance people didn't like it. The skill and talent he had in the car was one aspect, but to own and operate the teams that he had while competing at the highest of levels. Family man, all these layers to it. There were many I was fortunate to see that maybe others couldn't. Just such a tragic loss."
Legacy extends to here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as well. Racing is a tight knit community no matter the series and drivers in this weekend's Indy 500 know just how much of an impact he's had on the entire sport.
"It's not just in NASCAR, it was in this paddock, it was across the globe in Formula One," Santino Ferrucci said. "You're talking one of those legacy names who has some insane records.
"He did a tremendous in history, unbelievable fan base and all the NASCAR communities," Sato said. "He's one of the best here in history."
"His grit and determination and honestly unfilteredness was refreshing for a lot of us," Scott Dixon said.
"Memories that I have just racing against him, it's always tough when someone, when a colleague in our sport goes away," Helio Castroneves said. "But like I said, our thoughts and prayers for the family."
Busch leaves a legacy that will forever live at the Brickyard.
