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Andretti wins for first time in 78 races
NEWTON, Iowa (June 25, 2011) - The last time Marco Andretti won an IZOD
IndyCar Series race he was a 19-year-old rookie who shaved about once a
week.
That was August 27, 2006, at Infineon Raceway. Under the lights at Iowa
Speedway on a chilly summer night, the 24-year-old Andretti's 78-race
drought came to an end. He probably shaved in the morning, too.
Andretti overtook former Andretti Autosport teammate Tony Kanaan on Lap 232
for the lead and went on to record a 0.7932-of-a-second victory in the Iowa
Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway.
Andretti's previous best finish this season was fourth at Barber Motorsports
Park, and since his previous victory he had three runner-up finishes
(including Iowa Speedway in the inaugural 2007 race).
"We were down a little bit on the bigger ovals but we know when it comes
down to handling we’d be OK," said Andretti, who started 17th in the No. 26
Team Venom Energy car. "These guys did a great job with pits. They got me
the lead back. We had some good racing with T.K. It was good fun."
Andretti had passed Kanaan on Lap 209, only to have Kanaan return the favor
four laps later. Andretti was running second to Dario Franchitti when they
cycled through for their final round of service on Lap 184 under caution.
Andretti got out first. On a Lap 199 restart, Kanaan oevrtook Franchitti for
second and the charge to the checkered flag was on.
"Knowing TK, I knew he would do exactly what I did to him," Andretti said.
"He’d make his car very wide. I didn’t want to wait until two to go because
he was just going to chop me and I would have been done. I knew I had to get
it done earlier and actually make my car wide."
Over the final 17 laps, Andretti and Kanaan weren't separated by more than
nine-tenths of a second.
Added Kanaan: "Congratulations to him. He did a great job. It was a great
battle, a great race. We didn't quite have the car. I think toward the end
we got a little stronger. I'm happy for the team."
It was the third victory for Andretti Autosport in the five races at Iowa
Speedway, including Kanaan in 2010.
Scott Dixon charged from 23rd on the starting grid to finish third, while
Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Franchitti, who led the most laps, was
fifth. Rookie JR Hildebrand, the Indianapolis 500 runner-up, passed
Franchitti on Lap 242 for fourth place.
"We didn't have the best car out there but it was a tough race with lots of
traffic," Dixon said. "All in all great day for both cars. We made some
changes and got to work on the car, which was really loose. It feels like a
win coming from 23rd to third."
Ryan Briscoe was sixth and Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves, who was
running second to Franchitti early on but fell a lap down because of a tire
pressure issue, came back to finish seventh.
Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay was eighth, and rookie James
Hinchcliffe recorded his fourth top-10 finish in the No. 06 Sprott
Newman/Haas Racing car. Danica Patrick, driving the No. 7 Team GoDaddy car
for Andretti Autosport, posted her third consecutive top 10 (and her 42nd
consecutive race running at the finish).
“It’s a decent result for the DHL/Circle K/Sun Drop team; we just needed to
take some points out of here and get on to Toronto," said Hunter-Reay, who
will be a groom next weekend. "It’s just great that Marco won. It’s really
great for the team. Dr Pepper Snapple, with Venom on the side of the car,
really needed a win and they deserve it.
"Marco deserves it; that whole 26 team really deserves it, so I’m really
happy for them and happy for the team as a whole.”
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