Andretti Autosport Off To Good, Bad Start

March 15th, 2010

SAO PAULO, Brazil – When Michael Andretti became the sole owner of his IZOD IndyCar Series team at the end of last year, he planned to make some big changes to return to the forefront of the series.

The renamed Andretti Autosport nearly won Sunday’s season-opener with Ryan Hunter-Reay leading 20 laps before finishing second to race-winner Will Power in the Sao Paulo Indy 300.

That gave his team owner plenty to smile about in spite of what happened to Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti who all had to deal with misfortunes and bad-timing that kept them from contending for the victory.

“I think everybody is excited that we now feel like we have cars that we can fight with the best of them again. Michael Andretti said. “That is the biggest thing to come out of this weekend. I’m ecstatic that we are competitive again. A lot of what we did over the winter as the right moves. I’m just disappointed in the day because it could have been a lot better. Ryan did a great job but lost it there at the end unfortunately. Tony Kanaan could have won the race but he got taken out by Dan Wheldon so that was tough. Dan might have trouble getting out of here. And Marco’s deal was a freaking bummer. He had the worst weekend because he was going to be strong.”

The sky fell on Marco Andretti on the very first lap. Actually, it was nemesis Mario Moraes.

As the drivers hit the brakes to avoid a first lap crash triggered further up the field involving Takuma Sato, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and others, Andretti hit the brakes. Moraes ran into the back of Andretti’s car, was launched into the air and landed on top of Andretti.

When asked what went through his mind, Marco simply said, “Moraes.”

“He backed out and Moraes didn’t,” Michael Andretti said. “Big surprise with that. I was so worried with Moraes starting behind Marco but oh well….”

Brazilian hero Tony Kanaan had a car capable of winning the race but was run off the race track in Turn 5 after Dan Wheldon ran into the back of Alex Tagliani’s car. That sent Tagliani into Kanaan, knocking Kanaan off course into the runoff area.

After that, Kanaan had to fight his way back to 10th place in the race that was called early because of a 35-minute red flag earlier in the contest.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Kanaan said. “That’s racing. We had a very good car. I had a car to win the race. Unfortunately, that accident happened and after I was playing catch-up. But it was a fun event, a fun race. We have a Brazilian on the podium (Vitor Meira) so it was good for Brazil. I felt the weight of my nation on my shoulders but I did what I could.

“I’m just not very happy with Dan Wheldon right now.”

Patrick tried to use strategy by staying on the race course when it started to rain rather than pit for rain tires. The rain was so heavy it was obvious that at some point the race would have to be stopped but that was too late for Patrick, who spun on lap 30 and slid into the tire barrier in turn two. Three laps later, the yellow flag waved for rain.

“It was unfortunate because we made our way up to eighth, we had a good car and the right downforce and was making passes happen,” Patrick said. “To be honest I tried to make the brave hero move and stayed out when it was wet. Usually the people who are bravest when it’s wet and endure the wrong tire for condition come out on top. I thought whoever stayed out would be first cars on that lap. Unfortunately it was a bad decision because I ended up locking up and spinning. If we had stayed running, the car stalled out.

“We had some decent laps at the end. It’s a better start than last year.”

Patrick finished 15th but liked the race course.

“It was a really good track for passing,” Patrick said. “It’s better than a lot of road courses, really. The alterations they made really made it a good race.”

The driver that gave Andretti reason to smile was Hunter-Reay, who has a limited race deal with the team but after his performance on Sunday expect to see the talented American driver in more races this season.

“We’re trying real hard to make Ryan’s deal for the full season,” Andretti said. “Believe me, we are trying real hard.”

Hunter-Reay has a great benefactor with series sponsor IZOD. He is the driver utilized in the company’s commercials and print advertising and carries the company colors on the No. 37 car.

“We have a partial season right now and we hope to have a full one,” Hunter-Reay said. “All we can is put one foot in front of the other one.”