Marco Andretti prepares for 17th Indianapolis 500

SPEEDWAY — For Marco Andretti, driving on the oval on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is like driving a motorbike. 

Even after a 12 months away, the third-generation Andretti Autosport driver is making ready to run the 106th Indianapolis 500 as if he by no means skipped a beat.

“You may wake me up from my sleep and I’ll drive the Speedway. I find it irresistible right here,” mentioned Marco. “That is as chilly as I’ve been and I don’t really feel behind anybody or something.”

Regardless of beginning the race in row 8, he completed Monday’s observe with the eighth quickest ran 77 laps with the eighth quickest time, which was 

This 12 months, Marco will surpass his father Michael’s 16 Indianapolis 500 begins. Michael additionally returns as his son’s strategist for the large 12 months. 

“It’s a no brainer. He’s the most effective to do it truthfully,” mentioned Marco. “He’s a very good strategist. The 2 of us work lots higher now than after I was a rookie as a result of, like dad, I didn’t know something.”

The duo has all the time been “passionate” over the headset, getting loud in one of the simplest ways. 

“It’s completely different although as a result of it didn’t have an effect on us after I was a rookie, it affected everybody round us,” mentioned Marco. “We’d be animated over the radio and go to dinner no drawback. Different individuals would make errors as a result of the vitality is so excessive.” 

“Now they chortle at us and smile as a result of they know once we’re going at one another it’s as a result of we need to win this race.”

The Andretti curse has all the time been hanging over the household’s head, however Marco just isn’t letting the exterior noise apply exterior stress. 

“I’m very comfy with this racetrack. The stress is what I need to placed on myself to win this race. I don’t care what my final title is, I need to win this race.”