Andretti Autosport

May 6th, 2013

It was a successful day for Andretti Autosport on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil as GoDaddy driver James Hinchfcliffe captured his second career victory behind the wheel of the No. 27 Chevrolet.

Starting from the fifth grid position and enduring a series of restarts, the Canadian moved from third to second with just three laps to go and made the final move on the last turn to take the lead. Hinchcliffe now sits fourth in the championship points standings.

"There's no cooler way to win a race than the last corner of the last lap," said Hinch. "Heluva job that Takuma (Sato) did to be up there, and man, he was making his car really wide, he'd been defending the inside pretty well – almost too well a couple of times. He just out-broke himself a little bit. I know he was going to go deep, and we did the high-low and got the win. Awesome job for GoDaddy, Andretti (Autosport) and everybody."

GoDaddy CEO, Blake Irving commented on the Toronto native's second win of the season. "It's great to see such drive and determination even when the odds are against you. It's one reason why Hinch represents GoDaddy and our customers so well."

Teammate Marco Andretti had a productive day in the No. 25 RC Cola Chevrolet, capturing a third-place podium finish and his second podium of the 2013 season. Andretti started 10^th and stayed consistent throughout today's race.

"It was a lot of fun. It was dicey at some points. Really it was just about conserving the push-to-passes for when it counts," said Andretti. "At the end, I was kind of using it when people weren't expecting me to use it so I could kind of snooker them. Looking from practice one, I'm quite pleased with where we ended up today."

Coming into the Sao Paulo Indy 300 fourth in the championship points standings, the third-generation driver now sits second only 13 points behind Takuma Sato.

Earning his best career qualifying position of second place and his first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six this season, E.J. Viso started today's race on the front row next to teammate and pole winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. The Venezuelan native fought to the end of the 75-lap race to finish in sixth place.

"Finishing sixth is not really what we expected. It was a race full of surprises, and unfortunately that last stop was not for us. Luck was not on our side; we pitted right before the yellow came out and it didn't play in our favor," said Viso. "I'm very happy for James' second win and Marco's podium. It's something that only gives us confidence as a team to keep working hard for the next races."

Hunter-Reay started today's race on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil from the pole position, his second of the season. Hunter-Reay suffered from a flat tire and was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop costing him valuable track position.

"Extremely disappointing today. Absolutely had the car to win. Guys gave me a great, great car…the pit stops were awesome. Definitely needed to capitalize on this opportunity, but we got a flat tire about halfway through the race which pretty much sidelined us, " said Hunter-Reay. "We pit super early on the last stop, had to save fuel the remainder of the race. I was lifting halfway down the straightaway so… we were wounded and stayed that way. Happy for the teammates – James on the win and Marco on the third."

The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Champion came to the twin checkers in 11^th and currently sits sixth in the championship points standings.

The team's racing cargo will be packed up tonight and make the voyage back to Indianapolis, just in time for crews to load into the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway where we will spend the next two and a half weeks preparing for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Kicking off our month of May, will be a test at IMS with NASCAR champion Kurt Busch. Busch will take the wheel of the Andretti Autosport No. 1 DHL Chevy Thursday with Michael Andretti present to guide him through the day. Follow all the testing via Twitter using hashtag – #IndyOutlaw.

The Indy 500 gets into full swing with Opening Day on Saturday featuring both veteran practice and rookie orientation, track activity starts at noon. Practice continues through the week before Pole Day on May 18. Andretti Autosport had two cars start on the front row of the 2012 Indy 500 and will make qualifying attempts with a five-car effort this year as Carlos Munoz joins the IndyCar stable for the 500-mile race on May 26.

Keep up to date on all things Andretti Autosport by joining us on Twitter (@FollowAndretti) and don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook where you can enter to be our featured Fan of the Week.

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Trackside Update – Qualifying from Sao Paulo, Brazil

May 4th, 2013

SPOLIER ALERT: This Trackside Update covers IZOD IndyCar Series Qualifying from the Sao Paulo Indy 300. While the qualifying session took place this afternoon, coverage will be broadcast by NBC Sports Network at 1 a.m. Eastern Sunday morning. If you are not yet prepared to discover the results of today’s qualifying, we recommend saving this Trackside Update for future reading.

Greetings from sunny Sao Paulo where the track activity today was plentiful. In our fourth round of IZOD IndyCar Series competition, the field took to the 11-turn street circuit for a day full of practice and qualifying. The Andretti Autosport cars started the day with a strong showing, placing all four drivers inside the top 10 during the afternoon’s practice session. Qualifying showed true to the strength of the Andretti Autosport quartet this weekend as all four cars will start tomorrow’s 75-lap race from 10th or higher on the grid.

Ryan Hunter-Reay secured his second pole position of the season today on his way to claiming a new track record in Brazil. He turned a fast lap time of 80.43 seconds in the DHL Chevrolet. "I gave it everything I had and it's great to get the DHL Chevrolet up front again and on pole,” said Hunter-Reay. “That's three of the four races this year that we've been on the front row and twice on pole. I'm so happy for the guys and everything they've done for me. Tomorrow's when the challenge is though.”

Also setting records today was teammate E.J. Viso as he recorded his best career qualifying effort of second place, as well as his first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six in 2013 for Team Venezuela. Said Viso, “To be starting on this track on the front row is great. I’m very grateful for the great car that team gave me today. It was good enough for the front row, and I have a lot of faith in them that tomorrow we are going to have a good car in the race that is going to stay and keep that pace. Congratulations to my teammate Ryan – he did a great job and I’m very happy for him to get the pole position.”

GoDaddy driver James Hinchcliffe joined Viso and Hunter-Reay in the Firestone Fast Six and will roll of from the fifth grid position tomorrow. “You like to be in the Firestone Fast Six, but obviously there was a bit more pace if you look at the teammates… I tapped the wall on my fast lap in Q3 – probably cost us little bit of time,” said Hinch. “Probably could have been an Andretti Autosport one-two-three, so I feel bad I let the team down in that respect. I think we’ve got a solid race car; we can definitely race from fifth tomorrow. We just need to keep our nose clean and finish. The last couple of evens have been hard and we’ve got to get the Go Daddy car Chevy back up front.”

Hinchcliffe went on to congratulate his teammates on their accomplishments, “Congrats to Ryan on the pole, great run. E.J. is really the star of the show, to me. He did a hell of a job on that second run.”

Continuing the strong showing for Andretti Autosport was Marco Andretti in the RC Cola Chevy. Andretti will start from 10th tomorrow. “We were kind of on our own, setup wise. We were way different than the teammates, and it ended up biting us a bit. But I still think we have a podium car that we can change to and a podium would be a great finish for the RC Cola crew tomorrow – we can do it from 10th.”

You can catch all the action from Brazil by tuning into NBC Sports Network (Verizon FiOS 90/590, DirecTV 220, DISH 159 and AT&T UVerse 640). Coverage will begin on Sunday with qualifying airing at 1 a.m. ET followed by live full race coverage at 11 a.m. ET. If you can't make it to the television, listen along with the broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, on SiriusXM (Channel 211) and IndyCar.com.

Be sure to follow the official Andretti Autosport Twitter feed (@FollowAndretti) for live twitter coverage and a behind-the-scenes look at race day from the Sao Paulo Indy 300. For a unique perspective on our racing life, check out the Twitter feed of team owner Michael Andretti’s K9 friend at @AndrettiK9.

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Fan of the Week – Scott Narvesen

May 3rd, 2013

Congratulations to Scott Narvesen, who is this week’s Andretti Autosport Fan of the Week! Scott lists IZOD IndyCar Series driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, as his favorite Andretti Autosport driver because he is a hard charger on the track and a class act off of the track.

Narvesen has been an IndyCar fan since he was a young boy watching the Indianapolis 500. “I always rooted for Mario Andretti and then I started cheering on Michael when he started his career with the Kraco team,” said Narvesen. “I think IndyCar is the best racing in the world hands down, I cannot get enough of it!”

Narvesen has collected many racing memories throughout the years watching the Andrettis. “Andretti is the first name that I think of when I think of racing,” comments Narvesen. “My favorite memory was when Michael came back to IndyCar from Formula 1 and won his first race.”

As the Andretti team prepares for this weekend’s race in Brazil, Narvesen will be watching and cheering on Hunter-Reay. Please tune in to the Sao Paulo Indy 300 on NBC Sports Network this Sunday, May 5, at 11 a.m. ET. Thank you to everyone who submitted a form to become the Andretti Autosport Fan of the Week. Please check back next Friday as we select another winner!

As always, thanks for your amazing support.

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NASCAR Champ Busch To Test Andretti Autosport IZOD IndyCar Series Car At IMS

May 3rd, 2013

5.3.13 (via IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com) After two days of testing the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet NASCAR Sprint Cup car this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch left the track knowing he was going to get more seat time at the famed oval before the Crown Royal presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard in July. But this time, the additional seat time will be behind the wheel an IZOD IndyCar Series car.

2004 Sprint Cup Series champion Busch will test a Chevrolet-powered Andretti Autosport Indy car Thursday morning, May 9, just two days before IMS officially opens for practice for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. Andretti Autosport team owner and IMS legend Michael Andretti will be on hand to provide driver coaching and assist in getting Busch up to speed quickly.

“I have always enjoyed racing at Indianapolis, and when IMS and Michael presented me with the opportunity to test an Indy car prior to opening day of practice of the Indianapolis 500, I jumped at it,” Busch said. “The Indianapolis 500 is an iconic event and having an opportunity to go through the testing process with Michael and Andretti Autosport, the defending series champions and two-time winners of the race, is pretty cool.”

Said Andretti: “I had the chance to get to know Kurt last year when we were working on another racing project. I respect his talent and am happy to give him the opportunity to experience the raw speed of an Indy car. It’s a unique feel and perspective – it will be totally different than what he is used to driving each week on the Cup circuit.”

Busch left open the door to compete in “The Double” – racing in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day – in the future.

Veach Leads Opening Day of Practice at Indianapolis

May 3rd, 2013

18-Year-Old Zach Veach Backs Up Quick Time At IMS; Only Driver over 190MPH

Andretti Autosport's Zach Veach put his K12.com machine back at the top of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway time charts with the quickest trip around the world's most famous oval Thursday during the first test in preparation for the Firestone Freedom 100 race to be contested later this month on Coors Light Carb Day. His blistering speeds trumped all other drivers leaving the 18-year-old as the only driver to hit a top speed of 190 mph. The teen even mirrored his topping of the IMS speed charts in late 2012 when he set an unofficial new track record while testing a Firestone Indy Lights car on the IMS road course.

"I guess for some reason we have some really good luck here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Veach. "Back in October we were P1 in the road course test while setting the track record. To come back here today and be P1 again in the K12 car is just incredible. So far Indy has been really good to us. Coming here has always been a dream of mine but we have to keep working hard. Also, I have to say I think I sounded like a little boy on the radio after my first lap because I was so excited to be here. This place has so much history and it's the one track you see growing up and where you dream of being as a professional race car driver one day. To be able to drive around this place at over 190 as an 18-year-old is something that's really special to me and I don't take that for granted. I want to especially thank my Andretti Autosport team for working so hard during this test and to K12 for making this all possible. I'm really looking forward to coming back here at the end of May, right after I finish up my Senior year of High School."

Veach, of Stockdale, Ohio, was grinning ear-to-ear after he took his first lap around the 2.5-mile legendary racecourse. While on a break between sessions, he told the media he was at a loss for words, reminiscing his dream to run at the famous course and comparing it to the day he got his first go-kart.

The open test at IMS was Veach's first outing on the oval despite a two-day test in October of 2012 where Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti evaluated Veach, weighing the option to move the-then 17-year-old up to the Firestone Indy Lights for 2013.

The team announced they would indeed move Veach up to the final step of the "Mazda Road to Indy" developmental ladder system, becoming the first driver to advance through the entire system alongside former teammate Sage Karam. When Veach was a mere 15 years of age, Andretti signed him, mentored him through two seasons in USF2000, one season in Star Mazda and now Veach looks onto his fourth season with the legendary team.

On the 2013 Indy Lights season, rookie driver Veach's best start is third on the Streets of Long Beach and his best finish is fifth and came on the Streets of St. Petersburg. Before stepping foot at IMS Thursday, Veach learned Wednesday, May 1, that legendary television and radio host Larry King had come calling for an exclusive interview. King joins a long list as Veach's popularity has soared since assisting Oprah Winfrey with her "No Phone Zone" campaign in 2010.

K12.com, the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education, backs the 18-year-old who plans to graduate this May 2013. While competing full time in the Firestone Indy Lights Series and finishing up his senior year of high school, Veach also makes time for his passion to help others through his national distracted driving and bullying campaigns.

CNN listed Veach as one of their most "Intriguing People" in 2010 while ESPN The Magazine named him NEXT in motorsports in 2011. Sports Illustrated followed in agreement in 2012, naming him a "Face in the Crowd." He released his first book on NBC's TODAY Show and is the youngest spokesperson for Got Chocolate Milk's? Team REFUEL nutritional health campaign.

If Thursday's open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is any indication of Veach's potential success later this month, we'll just have to wait and see. Practice for the Firestone Freedom 100 begins Thurs., May 23 at 9:00 a.m. EDT with qualifications set for 1:15 p.m. EDT later that day. The race will then be contested on Fri., May 24 at 12:30 p.m. EDT in advance of the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.

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Marco Andretti looks to continue strong start in Brazil

May 3rd, 2013

5.1.13 (via USAToday.com) - Marco Andretti is fourth in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings, fresh from a seventh-place finish at Long Beach, and aiming for his first win on a temporary street circuit this weekend in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

If that happens, what's next for the youngest Andretti? If you said victory at the Indianapolis 500 and a shot at the season championship, you're on the right path. His list of goals starts with Sunday's Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300.

"It would be a notch on the belt," said Andretti, the 26-year-old son of Michael Andretti and grandson of Mario Andretti. "It would help me sleep better at night. I've always looked at myself as a fighter, someone who keeps coming back again and again."

He's just 12 points out of the lead after three top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish in the season opener at St. Petersburg, Fla. In his eighth season with just two wins to his name, Andretti says he's ready to live up to his potential.

Andretti Autosport won the championship last season with Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Andretti has shown speed and consistency in the first three road and street races this season after finishing 15th in the final standings last year, 190 points behind his teammate.

Larry King Names Zach Veach As Next Interview

May 1st, 2013

Legendary television and radio host Larry King has selected 18-year-old Andretti Autosport Firestone Indy Lights race car driver Zach Veach as his next interview. King’s producers originally named Veach as one of 12 finalists in April as a potential interview subject as part of his network’s “Pick Me Larry” contest. Veach along with fellow athlete AJ Kirsch were selected as the winning interview subjects.

“To hear Larry King say my name was rather shocking to be honest,” said Veach. “I’m really greatful that Larry and his producers felt my story should be told through his channels. I think so many kids are bullied away from their true dreams and we must continue to speak out on the subject. We are also far from where we need to be on the subject of distracted driving and I’m anxious to also talk to Larry about this topic as well. Thank you again to all the fans who voted for me and again to Ora TV and Larry King for selecting me to be interviewed.”

King, a 25-year veteran host on CNN of Larry King Live, has transitioned to one-on-one interviews online with the most fascinating newsmakers, celebrities, world leaders and Internet stars. The Stockdale, Ohio native, Veach reached out to King’s producers as part of their “Be Interviewed by the King” contest. As part of his submission, he was to share in 15 seconds or less why King should pick him to be his next interview. As part of the finalist round, Veach was asked to submit a final one-minute video, which also featured Veach’s team owner, Michael Andretti.

King made the announcement on his website of Veach’s upcoming interview with him.

“Hi everybody, Larry King here to announce the winner of the Pick me Larry Contest,” said King. “My producers and I had a great time going through all your videos and hearing your stories and after careful review of each video, taking the fan votes into consideration. We chose Zach Veach as runner-up and I’m looking forward to doing an interview with him on Google Hangout.”

Veach returned for his fourth season with Andretti Autosport this year, moving up with K12 to the Firestone Indy Lights Series for 2013, the final stepping-stone to a future career in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. At the Long Beach 100, Veach scored his best qualifying effort of the season with a third-place starting spot and his best finish this season is fifth at the St. Petersburg 100. Veach will test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thurs., May 2 in preparation for the Firestone Freedom 100 on Coors Light Carb Day on Fri., May 24, 2013.

ORA TV expects to announce the date of Veach’s interview with King in the coming weeks.

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E.J. Viso: Teamwork & Sponsorship

April 29th, 2013

4.28.13 (via LatinoSports.com) – What are your thoughts regarding the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Every race we’ve done, we’ve been progressing. I’m not talking about results, but I’m talking about performance, teamwork, the way we were able to progress and to resolve from problems we have earlier in the week.

Long Beach was a very difficult weekend for us, especially in the beginning of the weekend. I can honestly say that I was lost. We were lost as a crew. We had some big issues during the first three practices, and we ended up just making a decision and it took us in the right direction for qualifying.

Since then we kept getting better. We ended up having the fastest lap of the race – I was able to take good care of my tires, save a lot of fuel. At that point I had two more laps of fuel than my competitors. That said, I believe that we could have finished easily on the podium.

I had very fast pace and good pit stops up until I was taken out.

Where do you need to place in order to financially break even?

This is not a relative question to answer. It’s different in many aspects. Every race pays differently, and I don’t do this job or this sport for the money. To be honest I haven’t even checked how much they pay.

Read more…

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State Senate honors Andretti team

April 29th, 2013

4.25.13 (via IndyCar.com) Indiana State Sen. Tom Wyss recalled attending his first Indianapolis 500 in 1952 with his father.

“He would save all year to take my brothers and me to the ‘500’ and all we got were infield tickets, and when I got my career going I would take my dad. We had better seats, but I’ll never forget that first year,” the representative from Fort Wayne told Michael Andretti during a presentation of Senate resolutions recognizing the IZOD IndyCar Series team for its accomplishments during the 2012 season and its contributions to the state.

Wyss founded the Indiana Motorsports Caucus, whose purpose was to make sure the legislature understood the importance of motorsports to Indiana economically and through international media attention.

Indiana’s motorsports industry of about 1,600 companies contributes more than 23,000 jobs paying an average annual wage of $63,000, according to a recent Purdue University study. The industry also is indirectly responsible for 421,000 Hoosier jobs. Andretti Autosport, which competes in the IZOD IndyCar Series and all three rungs of the Mazda Rod to Indy ladder, employs more than 100 skilled people at its Indianapolis shop.

“The greatest thing about it is that every part of this state has a racing entity, whether it’s a track, a race shop or manufacturer,” Wyss said. “One of the reasons we wanted to start the motorsports caucus is to remind everyone that this is the motorsports capital of the world, not North Carolina.

“To the average person when they go to a race they see the car on the track but don’t recognize all that goes on behind the scenes, the economic impact teams such as Andretti Autosport have in the state.”

Fan of the Week – Vince Strutt

April 26th, 2013

Congratulations to Vince Strutt who is this week’s Andretti Autosport Fan of the Week! Vince lists IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay as his favorite Andretti Autosport drivers. Strutt appreciates their character both on and off track as well as their level of professionalism.

Vince has worked for Dr Pepper Snapple Group for 12 years; DPSG is one of Andretti Autosport’s primary sponsors and a very loyal supporter of our involvement in the series. Having attended his first race in 1996 at Michigan International Speedway, Strutt has been hooked every since. “Once you see the power and speed in person, it’s hard to not get hooked,” said Strutt.

At the 2012 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Strutt got the chance to meet his two favorite Andretti Autosport drivers. “Both are well spoken and great competitors to watch,” Strutt comments. At the same race, Strutt had the “opportunity of a lifetime” to drive with Mario Andretti in the INDYCAR Experience two-seater rides. “I have never been so excited, the g-forces that you feel through each turn gave a even greater respect the great competitors and level of skill in this series,” said Strutt. “I still shake when I think of that amazing day.”

As the team prepares for Brazil, Strutt is anxious to watch all four Andretti drivers take to the streets of Sao Paulo for the Sao Paulo Indy 300. “I am looking forward to every race this year, 2013 is going to be a monster year for Andretti Autosport,” said Strutt.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a form to become the Andretti Autosport Fan of the Week. Please check back next Friday as we select another winner!

As always, thanks for your amazing support.

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