Ryan Hunter-Reay Wins Milwaukee Mile Indyfest

Photo Credit: INDYCAR/ LAT USA

A United States auto racing venue that pre-dates the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile has been the site of motorsport competition since 1903. Preserved as a staple venue for Indy car-style racing, the one-time centerpiece for open wheel made headlines in 2010 when the IZOD INDYCAR Series was unable to hold a race at the 1.015-mile oval. The Milwaukee Mile’s historic allure brought the major open wheel racing tour back to the racetrack in 2011 but was hurt by poor planning leading to many questions of whether the event will continue for 2012. Five-time winner at The Milwaukee Mile Michael Andretti would save the race through his sports marketing firm proving the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series another chance show-off the 22-lap event as a historical crown jewel.

On race day Saturday, rain delayed the start of the Milwaukee Indyfest by around two hours. However, with aggressive track drying, The Milwaukee Mile’s race start was inevitable. Little past two 2pm local time, pole-sitter Dario Franchitti led the 25-car IZOD INDYCAR field to the double-file start. A neat flawless start for almost all competitors, the #10 car of Franchitti benefited from his front starting position to secure a comfortable lead through the Milwaukee Indyfest’s first 63 laps.

On lap 28, a pit stop for the #67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car was penalized when Josef Newgarden ran into an air wrench lying in his stall. The penalty for the American driver Newgarden added insult to the injury of losing their 7^th place qualifying due to an unapproved engine change. Josef Newgarden would be the first retirement from the event with a mechanical problem reported on the #67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing race machine.

The first caution of the Milwaukee Indyfest was thrown on lap 67 when Simona de Silvestre’s #78 car was stopped in turn 4. The sole Lotus engined runner currently in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series, the HVM Racing car ended its day with the driver de Silvestro stating, "I just made a mistake.”.

With the #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car pitting just ahead of the yellow flag period, the race was ultimately out of the hands of the car’s Scottish driver Dario Franchitti. Later in the race, Franchitti would end up in the turn 3-4 wall finishing a season-worst 19^th. The Milwaukee Indyfest event would prove tedious for the Target Chip Ganassi Racing squad with #9 car of Scott Dixon penalized with a drive-though sentence for passing under yellow. Several observers including Dixon questioned the officials’ penalty. "I really don't know what happened on the restart where we got penalized. I think the one they waved off was the one we got out of line when EJ Viso was trying to restart at 20 mph.” said Scott Dixon. Running third when he was assessed the penalty lap 123, Scott Dixon and the #9 car was only able to claim 11^th place at the end of 225 laps.

After the 63^rd lap, Chevrolet powered would rule The Milwaukee Mile in a dominance not seen since earlier in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season. The #3 Team Penske car of Helio Castroneves took the lead from Dario Franchitti with James Hinchcliffe leading a lap through a pit stop exchange. Assuming the lead by staying out on the racetrack while others pitted, EJ Viso in the #5 KV Racing Technology vehicle would lead 27 laps. Viso would turn the lead back over to Castroneves on lap 96 during a caution for Justin Wilson #18 Dale Coyne Racing car sitting on the racetrack with a blown Honda engine. Misfortune would also find Wilson’s Dale Coyne Racing teammate James Jakes who was part of a coming-together with the #15 car of Takuma Sato. Unrelated to the crash between Jakes and Sato, the #4 car of JR Hildebrand was also part of the race’s third yellow period as his car stalled due to a mechanical problem.

The winning pass of the event was made on lap 142 when the #28 car of Ryan Hunter-Reay took advantage of a slight bobble by Castroneves. Surviving the attacks under two additional cautions, Hunter-Reay gave the Andretti Autosport group their first victory in 2012. By winning the Milwaukee Indyfest, Ryan Hunter-Reay will have won at least once in all three seasons he raced with Andretti Autosport. "It's amazing. First of all, thank you to all of the fans for coming out, filling a great number of seats in here. What a race. I know we would all have liked to see a little more passing, but from the car it was so busy, just trying to hang on to it. But getting a win for DHL and Sun Drop, it's unreal.” said the winning driver Hunter-Reay. For winning car owner Michael Andretti, the victory in a race promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing was a significant day.

Photo Credit: INDYCAR/ LAT USA

Quietly claiming his best finish of the season, Tony Kanaan finished ahead of the Andretti Autosport #27 car of James Hinchcliffe. For another incredible top-5 performance for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing #22 car of Oriol Servia, the Spanish driver weaved this way from 20^th to 4^th in the Milwaukee Indyfest. Rounding out the top-5 for the 2012 Milwaukee Indyfest is the EJ Viso’s #5 car for KV Racing Technology.

With the top-5 in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series’ The Milwaukee Mile all Chevrolet powered, this was the first win by the bowtie win since the Sao Paulo street race event. After 225 laps in the Saturday event, Alex Tagliani’s #98 Bryan Herta Autosport race car was the highest-finishing Honda-engined runner.

The next venue for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series is June 23^rd at Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 night race.


2012 IZOD INDYCAR
Milwaukee Indyfest
The Milwaukee Mile
Race Results

	Car #	Driver	Driver Nationality	Race Team	Engine
1	28	Ryan Hunter-Reay	United States	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet
2	11	Tony Kanaan	Brazil	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet
3	27	James Hinchcliffe	Canada	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet
4	22	Oriol Servia	Spain	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Chevrolet
5	5	EJ Viso	Venezuela	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet
6	3	Helio Castroneves	Brazil	Team Penske	Chevrolet
7	98	Alex Tagliani	Canada	Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian	Honda
8	20	Ed Carpenter	United States	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet
9	38	Graham Rahal	United States	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda
10	8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazil	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet
11	9	Scott Dixon	New Zealand	Target/Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda
12	12	Will Power	Australia	Team Penske	Chevrolet
13	77	Simon Pagenaud	France	Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports	Honda
14	2	Ryan Briscoe	Australia	Team Penske	Chevrolet
15	26	Marco Andretti	United States	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet
16	14	Mike Conway	England	AJ Foyt Enterprises	Honda
17	83	Charlie Kimball	United States	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda
18	6	Katherine Legge	England	Dragon Racing	Chevrolet
19	10	Dario Franchitti	Scotland	Target/Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda
20	15	Takuma Sato	Japan	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	Honda
21	19	James Jakes	England	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda
22	4	JR Hildebrand	United States	Panther Racing	Chevrolet
23	18	Justin Wilson	England	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda
24	78	Simona de Silvestro	Switzerland	Lotus-HVM Racing	Lotus
25	67	Josef Newgarden	United States	Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing	Honda

Andretti Autosport Makes 2012 INDYCAR Plans with Chevy

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Ahead of a major 2012 season for the IZOD INDYCAR Series, auto racing observers eagerly awaited the decisions of the league's three superteams. Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing currently manages 11 cars on the grid for the full IZOD INDYCAR Series making the organizations highly influential to the complexion of the 2012 race field. Earlier this year, two of the three teams officially declared their choice of powerplants as Penske Racing was immediately linked to the Ilmor-built Chevrolet engine and Chip Ganassi Racing re-upping their relationship with Honda. On Friday, Andretti Autosport announced they will opt to wear the bowtie emblem on their all-new Dallara chassis.

Joining Penske Racing running the twin-turbocharged V-6 Chevrolet engines, Andretti Autosport's presence as the second major INDYCAR team commits about 7 cars to the General Motors brand for the next season. Chevrolet’s vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Jim Campbell welcomed Andretti Autosport saying “Michael and his family have won many races for Chevrolet and we intend to continue winning with our new partnership. We are anxious to have Andretti Autosport begin testing the 2012 engine in the near future.”

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Since the plans for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season have included a return to multiple engine suppliers, Andretti Autosport were presented with a choice of Chevrolet, Honda or Lotus engines. Connected to one of the most decorated American racing families, all three auto companies had a prior relationship with the Andretti family. The first generation motorsport family member Mario Andretti took the 1977 Formula 1 championship competing with Team Lotus. Michael Andretti won the 1991 CART World Championship driving a Chevrolet-badged engine with Newman/Haas Racing. As Michael Andretti won 15 races in a three-season span with Chevy power, father Mario Andretti recorded the first Chevrolet win in INDYCAR taking victory at the 1987 Long Beach Grand Prix. Finally, in recent years, all three generations of Andretti race car drivers participated with Honda in promotional work on and away from the track.

Deciding between engines, it's likely Andretti Autosport heavily weighed their options between continuing relationship with Honda or the potential of new horizons supported by Chevrolet power in the 2012 season. As Andretti Autosport chooses a move to Chevrolet, team owner Michael Andretti acknowledged their appreciation for Honda engines through 10 seasons. “All of us want to thank Honda for many good years together, including 39 wins, two wins at the Indy 500, and for working with us to return street racing back to IndyCar in St. Petersburg and then again in Toronto" said Andretti.

Past history between Chevrolet and the Andretti family netted success in North America's top open wheel racing series. However, as the two groups reunite for the uncertain 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series schedule, it will remain to be seen if past accomplishments between Chevrolet and Andretti Autosport will build into a productive future on the race track.  

2012 INDYCAR Engine Shuffle in Full Swing

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Big technical changes announced little over a year ago for the IZOD INDYCAR Series is quickly coming to reality. An all-new race car will be christened with the season opening race connecting the series to the advanced technologies utilized in the modern automobile industry. Among many changes upcoming to the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season is completely revised engine specifications. Regulated to twin-turbocharged 2.2 liter V-6 powerplant, the series entrants will be presented with a choice of manufacturers for the for time since the sanctioning body's 2005 open wheel racing season. As the current 2011 season has just past its halfway point, several major INDYCAR Series teams have already decided on the powerplant choices for 2012. After powering the IZOD INDYCAR Series through the past 6 years as the sole engine supplier, Honda will remain one of three manufacturers which now sees direct competition from Chevrolet and Lotus.
The first race team to announce their 2012 powerplant choice was Penske Racing. Prior to the new year, Ilmor Engineering confirmed involvement with the Chevrolet brand's return to open wheel. A long-time partner with Ilmor, team owner Roger Penske was present at the introduction ceremony. Absent from open wheel racing since the end of 1993, Chevrolet's history with Penske Racing included three Indianapolis 500 victories and a 1988 championship on the CART World Series.

Penske Racing intention to run Chrevrolet engines in 2012 was followed almost six months later by powerplant confirmation from rival Chip Ganassi Racing. For the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season, the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing and rookie Chip Ganassi Racing team has elected to remain faithful to Honda power. Winning the past three IZOD INDYCAR driver titles titles with Honda engines, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing became a powerhouse combination on the CART World Championship during the late 1990s.

On July 19th, long-time series team AJ Foyt Racing confirmed their #14 car will remain powered by Honda Racing Development through the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series season. In response to the race team making an agreement with the Japanese-born auto company, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics, for American Honda Erik Berkman responded, "A.J. shares many traits with Soichiro Honda, the founder of our company. Passionate, dedicated men, their names became synonymous with racing in their native lands, and each has served as a symbol of his country’s passion for motorsport around the world. Today, we consider A.J. to be a venerable member of the Honda ‘family,’ and we look forward to our continued association with both the man and his team." On the side of AJ Foyt Racing, the four-time Indy 500 driver turned team owner AJ Foyt stated "I am really looking forward to working with Honda next year,".
There has yet to be a confirmation for teams opting for the Lotus engine. Expect KV Racing Technology, a current technical partner with Lotus Motorsports, to officially declare the usage of the British sports car company's engine. Perhaps one of the last remaining superteams still in play for their 2012 engine decision is Andretti Autosport and Newman/Haas Racing.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Yet to confirm their choice, Andretti Autosport is equally as likely remain with Honda as it is with taking a chance with Lotus or Chevrolet. Building a close-knit reputation with Honda, the Andretti family also has a history connected to each of the other auto manufacturers competing on the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR circuit. Michael Andretti won the 1991 INDYCAR/CART World Championship with Chevrolet power while Mario Andretti became the 1978 Formula 1 World Championship driving for Colin Chapman's Team Lotus. A wild card decision for 2012, expect Andretti Autosport to choose what is best for both sponsors and for the team's competitiveness in the future IZOD INDYCAR Series.

In the case of Newman/Haas Racing, staying with Honda could be a likely decision but other engine suppliers are not completely out of the equation. With Honda power in the IZOD INDYCAR season, Newman/Haas Racing has two team victories in 2008 but has not won a race for almost 3 years. Newman/Haas could select Chevy power for the 2012 season marking a return to a powerplant the team used from 1987 to 1991.

With a chance to completely shake up the front-runners to the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series, engine manufacturers choices could affect the balance of competition for the anticipated new car season.

Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport Pull Off Victory in Long Beach

Photo Credit: Richard Dowdy

With NASCAR races in Texas postponed by rain and the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix race on the wet Shanghai International Raceway, The IZOD IndyCar Series weekend racing action in Long Beach, California was performed under dry, sun-baked temperatures. Capping the race weekend which involved the Firestone Indy Lights and American Le Mans Series in a spectacular race on Saturday, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach main event for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series started with polesitter Will Power leading Ryan Hunter-Reay and Justin Wilson into turn one.

The #12 Verizon Penske Racing car of Power held the lead through the initial laps as the Long Beach track and race was not availing drivers with any great increases in passing opportunities than the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race at Barber Motorsport Park. The green flag allowed Power to separate himself from much of the field with exception of the IZOD-sponsored #37 Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing #22 car of Justin Wilson.

On lap 16, the move of a race occurred as the front running cars of Power and Hunter-Reay entered Long Beach's turn 11. Arcing through the corner, Will Power's #12 car came off the corner slowly allowing Ryan Hunter-Reay and later Justin Wilson to pass Power. While Will Power backslid through the grid as his #12 Dallara-Honda crawled up to speed, the car recovered to race pace shortly. For what might have been a costly incident, the #12 Penske Racing team driver cited a gear-selection problem as culprit. Will Power maintains a podium position run almost throughout the following laps.



Photo Credit: Steve Swope


As the race laps ticked, there was no movement within the top three positions. However, the path of these leaders would not be entirely smooth sailing. Passing the lapped car of IndyCar Series full-season rookie Alex Lloyd driving the Dale Coyne-owned #19 car on lap 53, Justin Wilson had has front wing broken when the #19 took away a passing line. Coming to the attention of his #22 Z-Line Designs pit crew, a replacement nose assembly and rejoined the IndyCar field. An unpopular move, the driver #19 Boy Scouts of America car issued a Twitter understand. "Want to apologize to Justin. It was the corner after Ryan went by and I just didn't know he was there. Glad he recovered well!" Lloyd said.

The only caution of the Toyota Grand Prix of Grand Prix came out as result of an on-track collision between Mario Romancini and Graham Rahal. While Romancini will race again on the Kansas Speedway oval in two weeks, Graham Rahal is possibility going to be a healthy scratch to the IZOD IndyCar lineup in Kansas unless another ride will open up soon. Summing up his disappointment on his Twitter page, Rahal said "Incredibly frustrated. Horrible end to a bad weekend. Dollar General guys have been incredible, unfortunately we just couldn't get it right."

The last retirement of the race came on lap 65 as the FAZZT Race Team and Alex Tagliani were forced to park their entry after showing promise on several occasions on stop watches. After setting some fast laps through practicing Alex Tagliani's Long Beach race got off to a troubling start when Marco Andretti made light contact with the FAZZT Race Team #77 Dallara. Only damaging the tire ramp, the two cars continued without any measurable aftereffects of the accident. With a refueling issue on pit road during lap 29, Tagliani's race ended later on lap 65 when contact broke the front suspension of the #77 car.

In the end, Ryan Hunter-Reay muscled his #37 IZOD Andretti Autosport car across the start/finish line. Passing Will Power into the final laps, Justin Wilson elevated himself to a 2nd place finish for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team. Will Power takes 3rd place in the event securing a podium finish in all four IZOD IndyCar Series races so far for 2010.

The first Andretti Autosport team win since Tony Kanaan at Richmond in 2008, the trophy from this race was a deeply personal win for the driver. Dedicating this win to his recently dearly departed mother, Ryan Hunter-Reay celebrated an emotional victory at Long Beach with the support of Andretti Autosport drivers and crew members. Planting a hug on the winning American driver, car owner Michael Andretti and teammate Danica Patrick both proudly congratulated Ryan Hunter-Reay. As the day concluded, Ryan Hunter-Reay posted a twitter message saying "Huge win today, finally going to bed. Thank you all so much for your support. It means so much."

Taking a week off, the IZOD IndyCar Series returns May 1 for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway. The first oval for the tour, this race is also being viewed as a preparation for the Memorial Day classic Indianapolis 500.


2010 IZOD IndyCar
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Final Race Results

1. 37 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States/ Andretti Autosport
2. 22 Justin Wilson/England/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
3. 12 Will Power/Australia/ Penske Racing
4. 9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
5. 11 Tony Kanaan/Brazil/ Andretti Autosport
6. 32 Mario Moraes/Brazil/ KV Racing Technology
7. 3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil/ Penske Racing
8. 6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia/ Penske Racing
9. 4 Dan Wheldon/England/ Panther Racing
10. 24 Mike Conway/England/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
11. 14 Vitor Meira/Brazil/ AJ Foyt Enterprises
12. 10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
13. 06 Hideki Mutoh/ Japan/ Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
14. 26 Marco Andretti/United States/ Andretti Autosport
15. 8 EJ Viso/Venezuela/ KV Racing Technology
16. 7 Danica Patrick/United States/ Andretti Autosport
17. 78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland HVM Racing
18. 5 Takuma Sato/Japan/ KV Racing Technology
19. 19 Alex Lloyd/England/ Dale Coyne Racing
20. 2 Raphael Matos/Brazil/ Luczo Dragon/de Ferran Motorsports
21. 77 Alex Tagliani/Canada/ FAZZT Race Team
22. 67 Graham Rahal/United States/ Sarah Fisher Racing
23. 34 Mario Romancini/Brazil/ Conquest Racing
24. 36 Bertrand Baguette/Belgium/ Conquest Racing
25. 18 Milka Duno/Venezuela/ Dale Coyne Racing

XSL Exclusive Interview: IZOD IndyCar Driver Marco Andretti

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

This is an XSL Speed Reporter exclusive interview with IZOD IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti, pilot of the #26 Venom Energy car for Andretti Autosport. Forgive please for my few hours of delays but I was unsure how I wanted to format this unique pleasure of mine. I certainly hope loyal race fans, like yourselves, will enjoy the result.

Driving the #26 Andretti Autosport vehicle for his 5^th season in IRL's top open wheel racing series, Marco Andretti enters the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season with the #26 Venom Energy Dallara-Honda. The son of 42-time American open wheel race winner Michael Andretti and grandson of auto racing legend Mario Andretti, the youngest racing Andretti has found establishing his own mark in racing to be a lengthy trial.

Upon entering the IndyCar Series in 2006, the weight of his famous last name weighed heavily on the third-generation driver. With his family heritage serving as a mixed blessing Marco entered with instant notoriety. Inspired to challenge naysayers who contest Marco Andretti presence in the series being earned only on his legacy, the 19-year old rookie passed the initial test. On his way to rookie of the year, Marco Andretti fell just 6/100ths of a second short of winning the 2006 Indianapolis 500. Dicing with his father in the late laps around the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Marco won over skeptics in the 2^nd place performance that day. Fueled on momentum, Marco Andretti scored his first victory later in the year at the Infineon Raceway road course.

While the early success of the 2006 IndyCar season allowed Marco Andretti to emerge like a lion, the seasons following the freshman run left the driver appearing like a lamb in comparison. Finishing 8^th in the final points standings for 2009, the young Andretti's best finish came with a 4^th place at Texas. However, this past IndyCar season was a disaster to the four-car Andretti-Green Racing (now Andretti Autosport) team. Enduring a challenging year in 2009, Marco Andretti enters the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series reacting well to the changed complexion of tour schedule featuring a majority focus on road/street courses. "This season we have 9 road/street circuits and 8 ovals. The road and streets do out number the ovals, but I wouldn’t say that mean the Series has shifted to a majority focus. I do really enjoy driving road and street circuits because they really require you to work at the driving. There’s so much for to focus on it really keeps you on your toes. But the ovals have a speed and intensity all their own so I do think it’s important for the series to stay balanced."

Photo Credit: Shawn Gritzmacher

At the age of 23, it's hard to remind ourselves that Marco is still a very young talent racing in a big league of auto racing. Interesting in fact with four prior years and sixty-seven races of IndyCar competition, Marco's grandfather was 24 years old when his IndyCar career even started. Entering into his 5^th season of competition in the IndyCar series, he has learned since his 2006 rookie season that perseverance plays a major part in growing as a driver. "I think as a driver you learn new lessons every year. The biggest overall lesson I’ve learned is to never give up – it won’t always be easy but if you see it through and don’t give in you’ll always be better off."

Unlike other drivers for the smaller teams on the IZOD IndyCar Series tour, the four-car team of Andretti Autosport provides Marco Andretti with a potential wealth of information. "Having three teammates is sometimes like having three siblings. Sometimes communication is a breeze and sometimes it’s not as easy – I think that’s just human nature though." Andretti states candidly. "My teammates and I always share track information. That’s the best part about being part of a four car team; I have three other drivers to bounce ideas around with. We each have our own driving style so what works for one of us may not be the best solution for everyone, but having someone on your side is always nice."

As the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season opening in Sao Paulo, the first round of Marco Andretti's fifth season ended after one corner in a collision that involved Mario Moraes running up over the #26 car. Two weeks later, the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg showed that Marco by leading a small portion of the event. Unfortunately, the #26 Venom Energy team front-running speed was thwarted by a tire problem to a 12^th place finish. Placing the first two events aside for 2010, Andretti is attacking this season one race at a time refusing to predict at what venue the #26 would be seen strongest. "It’s really too early to tell exactly what will be our best race. We’ve had some strong showing on ovals in the past and we learned a lot about our road course set ups over the last season". Of course like every other driver on the schedule, Andretti was willing to offer a specific challenge to a particular Brickyard. "Personally I’d like to think Indy will be my best race – the Speedway and I have some unfinished business." Marco Andretti says. It's interesting to note that with this being an even numbered year, Marco Andretti is statistically backed for a strong Indy 500 in 2010.

This season, Marco Andretti's plans will include a rendezvous with the Rebellion Racing team at the Le Mans 24-hour race. Driving a #12 Lola prototype powered by a Rebellion V-10 engine, Marco teams with Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost (son of Formula 1 great Alain Prost). All of these drivers have formally competed against each other in the A1 Grand Prix last year. Unfinished business for the Andretti clan, if Marco's team victory he will capture the only remaining honour in auto racing yet to be held by an Andretti. A definite way to place his own individual mark in auto racing. When asked how the deal developed to drive Le Mans, Andretti says "Fortunately they called my manager. And when my manager called me, I took the deal in a minute. I’m not sure how they picked me, but I raced with Nicolas Prost and Neel Jani in A1GP and I think they may have been the ones who pushed for me to be their third driver. It’s cool since it seems like I did something right over there. I’m honored to have been gotten the call and can’t wait to go over there and have some fun."

In regards to comments for whether he would like to accumulate a racing resume similar to his grandfather, racing legend Mario Andretti, Marco quips "Sure, who wouldn’t? I’ve done some sport car driving and I really love that."

However, on the topic of seeing another Marco Andretti becoming another open wheel driver jumping in NASCAR (such as former teammate Dario Franchitti and current Andretti Autosport comrade Danica Patrick), the 23-year old has firmly dismissed possibilities. "As for stock cars – that’s just not my thing." Although uninterested in stock car racing involvement, Marco Andretti has not ruled out involvement in the biggest league of open wheel racing; Formula 1. "I think every open-wheel driver has F1 in the back of their minds as an ultimate goal and I’d love to make it there some day. But you really have to be in the right position for that and the timing has to be right. I just don’t think it’s my time yet and there are still things I’d still like to accomplish in the IZOD IndyCar Series."

I extend my deepest thanks to Marco Andretti and Andretti Autosport for cooperating so I may present this article.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan IndyCar team adds Hideki Mutoh

Photo Credit: IndyCar Media

Evicted from the team now known as Andretti Autosport after 2009, Japanese Hideki Mutoh joins the Newman/Haas/Lanigan race team for what will be his third full season in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Announced on Sunday, this recent confirmation by autosport.com corresponds with lingering speculation for where Mutoh would run in the upcoming open wheel season.

The 2008 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, Hideki Mutoh's North American career started in the Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2007. Winning the sprint race at Kentucky Speedway, Mutoh finished 2nd overall in the Indy Lights championship standings. Later in that season Mutoh was supplied one-off appearance in Panther Racing's #60 car at Chicagoland Speedway IndyCar event. An strong 8th place debut outing saw the Japanese driver services secured by Andretti-Green Racing for the past two IndyCar seasons. In Mutoh's short career of 35 starts, his best finish came in his rookie year with a 2nd on the short track of Iowa Speedway. Last year, Mutoh's return to the Iowa track amounted in a season best 3rd place with his #27 Andretti-Green Racing car. Despite some top 5 runs, Hideki Mutoh finished just outside of the top 10 in overall 2009 IndyCar Series points.

With the start of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series only three weeks away, there continues to be apparent vacancies in the team rosters for several teams including Dale Coyne Racing and KV Racing Technology. Even the driving lineup of Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing hasn't been completely ironed out with Mutoh being the team's only official driver for 2010. Second-generation driver Graham Rahal tenure with the team seems all but over as the off-season placed Rahal with various other IndyCar teams. Alex Lloyd has long been hinted for a ride with the team. Rumours have also mentioned that Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Champ Car championship driver Sebestian Bourdais could return as part of the 2010 campaign. It's also unconfirmed if 2 or 3 cars are going to be run by Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing even as opening round on the street course of Sao Paulo, Brazil nears.

Mutoh becomes the 2nd confirmed Japanese driver for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series this week following the migration of former F1 star Takuma Sato signing with one of KV Racing Technology's teams just a few days ago.

Ryan Hunter-Reay Officially Racing For Andretti Autosport for 2010

Photo from IRL/IndyCar

Completing the lineup for IndyCar racing's largest team, the four-car effort of Andretti Autosport declared American open wheel driver Ryan Hunter-Reay the newest teammate to Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti. The 30 year-old Hunter-Reay's place with Andretti Autosport's #37 team had all-but been officially announced since 2009 team driver Hideki Mutoh was released at the conclusion of the season.

Starting his racing career through the Skip Barber Racing School and Barber Dodge Series, Ryan Hunter-Reay first step into the big-time open wheel racing resulted in 2003 when he drove for the short-lived American Spirit Team Johansson in the Champ Car series. Paired by the seasoned past champion Jimmy Vasser, Hunter-Reay ended his rookie campaign with a victory at the Surfers Paradise round in Australia. Also winning a 2004 win at the Milwaukee Mile on the Champ Car tour, his talent has also translated to the IRL IndyCar Series. After Ryan Hunter-Reay locked a full-time ride Rahal Letterman Racing, he took the Indy 500 rookie of the Year honours as well as his first IndyCar series victory at Waltkins Glen.

Competing in the entire 2009 IndyCar series schedule, Ryan Hunter-Reay's year started behind the wheel of the Vision Racing team with a season's best 2nd place run in the maiden race at St Petersburg. However, while the season started well with Vision Racing, the following rounds in the 2009 IndyCar Series failed to net even top-10 results through to Texas Motor Speedway race in June. For the next race in Iowa, Hunter-Reay was granted leave of Vision Racing to replace the injured Vitor Meira at AJ Foyt Racing. A 7th place at the Honda Indy of Toronto in July and the 4th at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course in August were positive improvements but could not alter a 15th place finish in the 2009 IndyCar Series points standings.

With Andretti Autosport (last year known as Andretti-Green Racing) going winless for 2009, the team's entire driver lineup has to break the Penske and Chip Ganassi brigade going into 2010. Ryan Hunter-Reay has a habit of being the unexpected underdog who has allowed has talent to show at just the right time to catch even the most established teams off-guard.