Afrigather Whereas Andretti has at all times been considered a menace through the Month of Could, it has been a decade since he was in a correct battle for victory for the Indy 500.
Though he received pole for the 2020 version of the Indy 500, the final of his 4 podiums got here in 2014.
It has been particularly difficult since changing into an Indy-only entry the final three years, with no end larger than seventeenth.
“I knew the final three years we weren’t gonna play, so I used to be a bit of bit deflated,” mentioned Andretti, who claimed rookie honors within the 2006 Indy 500 with a runner-up end.
Nonetheless, this 12 months brings confidence for Andretti, who will begin nineteenth – a grid place that has received the Indy 500 twice earlier than (1954, Invoice Vukovich; 2014, Ryan Hunter-Reay) – in is nineteenth begin on Sunday within the No. 98 Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian Honda.
“This 12 months, the automotive appears to speed up,” mentioned Andretti, who completed tenth in Monday’s post-qualifying apply at 225.205mph. “It appears to have velocity once we attempt to go quick.”
When pressed on having a correct automotive to combat with, Andretti acknowledged, “I believe so, yeah. I am cautiously optimistic.”
Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta w/ Marco & Curb-Agajanian Honda
Picture by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images
A few of that angle will be attributed to the addition of race engineer Craig Hampson, who labored with Alexander Rossi at Arrow McLaren final season.
Hampson was with Andretti International from late 2013-16 earlier than becoming a member of Dale Coyne Racing from 2017-19, which included a reunion with Sebastien Bourdais. He beforehand guided Bourdais to 4 consecutive Champ Automobile titles throughout his time at Newman/Haas Racing.
“It is humorous, we do not actually have a ton of dialogue as a result of now we have a lot expertise between the 2 of us,” Andretti mentioned.
“So, we sort of simply sit there; I will learn the factor and be like, ‘Yep’ after which if we do this, ‘Yep’. We’re on the identical web page.”
Andretti made it clear that Hampson was his wished man.
“I’ve really pushed to get him again ahead of we bought him again, however the higher-ups within the staff missed that contract,” mentioned Andretti, who’s the grandson of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario.
“It actually made me indignant after I was driving as a result of it was like, ‘How can we miss getting him again?’ However we bought him.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay, DRR-CUSICK MOTORSPORTS Chevrolet, with Robert Wickens, Andretti International
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Andretti additionally credited Hampson for bringing on Robert Wickens, who was additionally previously with Arrow McLaren in a coaching-type position whereas additionally racing – and profitable the 2023 title – in IMSA’s TCR class of the Pilot Problem.
“He is extraordinarily, extraordinarily vital,” Andretti mentioned. “He is so good at studying knowledge and discovering, mainly extracting probably the most out of each little element that we’d like as a result of that is what this has come all the way down to.
“It is observe place, nevertheless it’s tougher and tougher to go as a result of all people’s so good. The tire is so good; there’s not lots of fall off. So, all of these minute particulars are what it comes all the way down to.
“And since they add up over 500 miles, all these tenths of a second, then it is a second, then it is two seconds, after which two seconds is lots of distance. So, you need to put all of these collectively.”
There may be additionally a aggressive fireplace that Wickens carries not like anybody else within the paddock.
“I agree,” Andretti mentioned. “He does.
“He works so onerous and I believe he, hopefully the others be taught by instance as a result of he is the final one to go away the storage. We’re on the telephone until 9:30 at evening and that is what it takes, man.
“That is what it takes.”
