Michael Andretti sat quietly in his Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage, looking out the door at the commotion he has caused.
He has been inundated by the media and besieged by fans every time he leaves his relative sanctuary amid the tool boxes, car parts and engines.
But he has known what to expect since March, when he announced that Sunday's Indianapolis 500 would be the final race as a driver.
"That's the worst part of the whole deal," Andretti said. "The whole month, and particularly the last few days, I've been pulled every which direction.
"But, you know, I'm able to handle it OK because I know what I want to do and I'm doing it. Actually, it's been the most fun I've had in May."
Michael will step out of the cockpit to focus on the new passion in his life: Andretti Green Racing, the team he and two partners bought late last year from Barry Green. Rookie Dan Wheldon will take his seat, joining veterans Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan as the team's drivers.
Most racers hate the thought of retirement. The son of Mario Andretti welcomes it.
At 40, he owns more wins (42) than any active American open-wheel racer and remains a competitive driver. Only his father and A.J. Foyt have won more.
He has no second thoughts about giving up driving.
"None. I'm doing it the way I always wanted to do it," Andretti said. "I always wanted to retire where I was still very competitive. I didn't want to fade away. I didn't want to have to be pulled out of the car. That's not my way."
And Andretti is quick to point out that he looks at this as a very positive change.
"Because of what I've been able to structure for myself beyond my driving years, to have something that I can still put a lot of focus in and still get a lot of adrenaline and still stay involved with the sport I love, it's just a fantastic thing," he said. "I really feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world."
Mario Andretti doesn't share his son's love of the racing business. He does, however, understands why Michael is ending his driving career 14 years earlier than he did.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was