Marco Andretti
Marco Michael Andretti (born March 13, 1987 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania) is an American auto racing driver who drives the #26 car for Andretti-Green Racing in the Indy Racing League. He is the son of 1991 IndyCar World Series champion Michael Andretti and the grandson of racing legend Mario Andretti. Andretti finished second in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 in the second closest finish in the race's history.
Andretti resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Early Career
Barely out of high school, he ran in the Star Mazda series in 2005 after two years in Skip Barber national competition, before moving up to the Indy Pro Series. He won three races (St. Petersburg, Indianapolis (road course), and Sonoma) and finished 10th in points despite only starting half the races.
Motorsports journalist Gordon Kirby suggested at the Champ Car finale in Mexico City that the youngest Andretti would be replacing Dan Wheldon in his #26 Jim Beam Dallara-Honda for 2006 with Michael Andretti coming out of retirement to run a fifth car for his Andretti Green Racing team at the Indianapolis 500. Though a novel proposition to some, it was later confirmed in a December 15 press conference that he would move up to the Indy Racing League full time as the youngest driver in series history and would trade sponsors (New York Stock Exchange and Motorola) with Dario Franchitti as Andretti is not old enough to run an alcohol-sponsored car. His father, Michael Andretti, came out of retirement to run a fifth car for the Indianapolis 500.
Indy Racing League
2006
In his rookie start on March 26, 2006 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the #26 New York Stock Exchange Dallara Honda, Andretti started 13th but made two mistakes. He passed before the start finish line on the opening lap, and broke a halfshaft in his first pitstop, eliminating him from the race.
With his Rookie of the Year performance in May at the Indianapolis 500, he became the third Andretti to finish in the top five in his first Indianapolis 500 appearance, by finishing second to Sam Hornish Jr. in the second closest finish in Indy history (0.0635), joining his father Michael (5th in 1984) and his grandfather Mario (3rd in 1965).
On August 27, 2006, Marco Andretti became the youngest winner of a major open-wheel racing event as he scored his first career Indy Racing League victory at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. His win established him as the 2006 Bombardier Rookie of the Year.
2007
The 2007 season has not been as successful for Marco. He has 6 DNFs (did not finish)and a 4th place finish thus far. The team has struggled to find balance on 1.5 mile ovals, with accidents eliminating him from the races in Japan, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee. He currently ranks 17th in points.
Formula One
Honda Racing F1 Tests
Honda Racing F1 announced in December, 2006 that Andretti would be presented with an opportunity to test their Formula One car.[1] On December 15, Andretti made his debut in a Formula One car at Jerez in Spain[2]. Honda sporting director Gil de Ferran commented that he had done a good job.[3]
Andretti said that he had greatly enjoyed the test but also told reporters that he wishes to enter Formula One only after he has won the Indy 500.[4]
On February 7 and February 8, 2007 Marco participated in a second Honda Racing F1 test for two days in Jerez, Spain. As in the previous test Marco drove the team's 2006 Formula One car. His (unofficial) fastest lap of the day on February 7 was less than 1.5 seconds slower than Honda team driver Jenson Button's fastest time.[5] His (unofficial) fastest time on February 8 (in rainy/changing conditions) was less than one second slower than that of the 2005 and 2006 Formula One World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso's fastest lap.[6]
Career Results
Indycar
(Races in Bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Andretti Green | HMS Ret |
STP Ret |
JPN 12 |
IND 2 |
WGL Ret |
TXS 14 |
RIR 4 |
KAN 9 |
NSH 8 |
MIL 5 |
MIS 8 |
KTY 17 |
SNM 1 |
CHI 18 |
7th | 325 | |||
| 2007 | Andretti Green | HMS Ret |
STP 4 |
JPN Ret |
KAN Ret |
IND Ret |
MIL Ret |
TXS Ret |
IOW 2 |
RIR | WGL | NSH | MDO | MIS | KTY | SNM | DET | CHI | 17th* | 109* |
- * 2007 season currently underway
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums (Non-win) |
Top 10s (Non-podium) |
Indianapolis 500 Wins |
Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
External links
References
- ^ "Honda hand test to Andretti". Overdrive. 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "F1 in the news". F1Fanatic.co.uk. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Action packed final Jerez test". Overdrive. 2006-12-16. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Andretti wants to win 500 then join F1". F1-Racing.Net. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2006-12-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Marco Andretti joins Jenson for day two at Jerez". HondaRacingF1.com. 2007-02-07.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Barichello and Andretti in action at wet Jerez". HondaRacingF1.com. 2007-02-08.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)