Print

Mail

wiki links

Michael Andretti targets Indy 500 after long absence

Michael Andretti will compete in next year's Indianapolis 500, ending a two-year absence from the driver's seat and taking another shot at a victory that so famously eluded him during a great career.

His son, Marco, will become a third-generation Andretti driver with a full-time spot in the Indy Racing League for Andretti Green Racing. The team is co-owned by Michael Andretti.

The team won this year's race with English driver Dan Wheldon, who also took the 2005 IRL championship. But he said last month that he's moving next season to Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Once Wheldon announced his decision, Michael Andretti said on Tuesday he knew it was time to come back.

"Ever since that time I've been very pumped about it, very excited," he said. "Then I thought, heck, what a neat idea that I would be driving with Marco."

Marco, who will turn 19 in March, will replace Wheldon. Andretti has three other full-time drivers -- Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta -- returning next year.

He thanked the team for giving him a shot.

"This team's record the last three years has been unbelievable and it's going to be tough to keep it going," he said. "We'll see how it goes."

Michael Andretti, whose father Mario won the 1969 Indy 500, was one of several second-generation drivers who joined the circuit in the 1980s and 1990s.

He retired after the 2003 Indy 500 with the dubious distinction of leading the most laps -- 426 in 14 starts -- without winning at least once.

His return is a major boost for the IRL, which has been trying to gain fan support over the past decade since its split from CART, now known as Champ Car. The IRL made headway this year with the emergence of Danica Patrick, who finished fourth in the Indy 500.
This story has been viewed 1288 times.