INDIANAPOLIS -- The statistics alone are hard to comprehend: 398 laps led and not one drink of milk in Victory Lane. He's been out in front more than three times more than two-time winner Al Unser Jr. (110 laps) and is just a few shy of four-time winner Rick Mears (428).

His only other challenger for futility at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is, ironically, his father, who led 11 races for a total of 556 laps and only came away with one win.

Michael Andretti has one more chance to put his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy this Sunday and add that final nugget to his fantastic career. But, if it doesn't happen, it won't be for lack of performance and effort.

"I feel like I've done all I can and I think I should have won this thing five or six times," said Andretti, who owns a record 42 wins in Championship Auto Racing Teams but is 0-for-13 here.

"I mean, I won Toronto seven times. Why? I didn't drive any better in Canada than I have at Indianapolis, it's just the way things turned out."

Of course the two biggest disappointments here came back-to-back. In 1991, he led almost half the race (97) laps and engaged in a classic duel with Mears near the end before losing by three seconds.

"I had the best car for most of the race and when I passed Rick on the outside going into Turn 1 to take the lead I think that was the first time that had ever happened," he recalled.

"But then Rick did the same thing to me on the very next lap. Then he just motored away. That was pretty tough. I went from the best feeling to hopeless in a couple minutes."

But that was nothing compared to his emotions the following May.

After watching Mario and brother Jeff pound the wall, Michael pressed on, led 160 laps and had lapped the field by Lap 189. That's when he lost fuel pressure and the race he so deserved.

"Nothing can compare to that day ... the worst of my life," he said, still shaking his head at the memory. "Dad's deal didn't look too bad but I knew Jeff had to be hurt pretty bad because it took so long to get him out of the car.

"So about the only thing that could have salvaged the day was to win the race and then I broke with just a few laps left. The car was perfect, it was so easy that day."

Obviously, he's had other opportunities.

	Andretti's future in racing is as a car owner.

In 1989, he had stormed from 21st to blast past Emerson Fittipaldi and take the lead with 37 laps remaining when his engine exploded.

"My car was really strong and I don't think Emerson had anything for me," he said of the eventual winner.

In 1995, the last Indy prior to the open-wheel war, Andretti was leading when he brushed the wall, bent his right-front suspension and had to retire. In 2001, his first year back at the Speedway, Michael started 21st but worked himself into the lead. He tangled with Tony Stewart on his final pit stop, had to replace the nose and wound up third.

"I feel like the only real mistake I've made here was in '95," he continued. "I got up in the marbles and brushed the wall. But it was just enough to damage the suspension."

From 1996-2000, he didn't compete at Indy because CART didn't. But he admits now he missed the old girl at 16th & Georgetown.

"As time went by I realized how special this place is and there's no other race like it," he said. "I missed five good chances to win this race in my prime so obviously that was pretty disappointing.

"And even though I've had some real heartbreaks here, it's still THE RACE."

The fact he's calling it quits after Sunday puzzles his father, but it feels right to the 40-year-old veteran who's got a beautiful wife, Leslie, two sons and the challenges of running a three-car IRL team in front of him.

	“	I won Toronto seven times. Why? I didn't drive any better in Canada than I have at Indianapolis, it's just the way things turned out. ”
		— Michael Andretti

"Dad still can't understand why I'm retiring, he thinks I'm way too young," said Michael, whose famous father raced until age 54 and was back testing his son's Indy car last month at 63 before walking away from a spectacular crash. "He doesn't understand why I would walk away when I still have a chance to win but that's where we're different people.

"Nobody ever had the passion to drive like he did but I'm completely comfortable with my decision. I'm going to retire knowing I can win the last race I'm in and a lot of guys before me haven't been able to say that."

If he finally wins, it will be euphoria. If not, it won't be the end of world -- just the end of the road.

"I know I've done my best at this place and, if it doesn't happen, well it doesn't happen," said Andretti, who starts 13th in his Dallara/Honda. "When I started racing here I didn't think it would be a matter of if I won this race, but when.

"It would be awesome to win this thing on my last try. But I've had a great career either way. Maybe I'm not supposed to win Indy, who knows?"

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.