Marco Andretti Futility Thread

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Originally Posted by CCFanatic

Michael Andretti was the 1983 Toyota Atlantics Champion.

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1983 was a great season between Michael, Roberto Moreno and Dan Marvin who won in 1984

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Originally Posted by Jonesi

Anyone got a good source of records on the web for SV & Atlantics? I'd like to look some 70s era stuff up. BTW Was Toyota in Atlantics then or were they still using the Cosworth BDA motors?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_Car_Atlantic_Series

to me, he seems to be a very talented road racer. so i think he is in the wrong series! Champ Car is the series he should be racing in. If F1 is his goal, then the IRL isnt the path to take. I think Marco should race in Champ Car, yet still participate in the Indy500. Newmann-Hass has a good relationship with the Andretti family, im sure they could sought something out

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Originally Posted by Wilf

On Sunday TK was asked about Marco's problems and this is some of what he said:

TK added that Marco was going to spend the week with him in Miami and talk things through. It appears to many that he has the talent, particularly on the road courses and I have been pounded bloody by those who say if a driver can win on a road course he or she can win on an oval. I still maintain, you have to have a different mindset to be good on an oval. Time will tell.

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Well, it took Dario Franchitti forever to be successfull on an oval, too - he didn't win on one until his sixth season in Champ Car (Rockingham 2002) and now he's an Indy 500 champion and the points leader in a primarily oval-based series. One mustn't forget that Marco had next to no oval experience prior to joining to the IRL, as in the Pro Series he only ran the road courses (except for a one-off at Kentucky). I think it just takes time and experience to be a really good oval racer - although there are exceptions to this rule like Bourdais or Montoya, but both of them had vastly more racing experience in other series.

What makes it so puzzling is that Marco did quite well in most ovals last year. He was constantly in the top10. And he brought the car home in one piece most of the time.
It sure it is just a bad streak. But seriously, how much more of this will AGR swallow? And/Or the sponsor? They have Herta on the sideline, who could just jump in and get a top10 or top5 any day. In fact, with the AGR-cars being really competative this year, and with the increased number of road races, Herta wouldn't be a surprise in victory lane.

And about Marco's goal being F1: If that's what's on his mind, I have no idea why he came to the IRL in the first place. Nelson Piquet built a GP2-team just for his son, he used all his connections to get him the test-driver cockpit at Renault. Michael and Mario should start a similar project, if that's what's on their mind. Marco can return to America and go for the '500 anytime.

The kid is just that, still a kid. Saw him on ITV being interviewed at the USGP, and he came across as a rabbit in the headlights, especially when asked about F1. It was clear that there is no roadmap for him to get there and it is purely the name of Andretti that makes people think he will. he has a lot to prove BUT he has a lot of years in front of him yet.

I think a year or two in Champ Car or GP2 might prove his road racing credentials and make him a bit more F1 bankable.

BTW a horse called Miss Andretti won at Ascot today in front of the Queen

Is there also a Miss Danica? ;)

I encountered this article the other day. I thought some of the contributors to this thread would find it interesting. It's a bit old, but it may provide some insight as to why Marco is where he is.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/21251/

He got a podium yesterday! I am very happy for him!

But why is he trying to get good at oval racing when he wants to spend the balance of his career in a series that doesn't race on ovals?

From what I know, he wants to win the 500. Indy is where he should be, if he wants to win that race.