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Marco Andretti to surpass father with 17th start at Indianapolis 500

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Marco Andretti to surpass father with 17th start at Indianapolis 500


Marco Andretti doesn’t wish to be on the observe if he’s not racing. He’ll watch on tv, although, and provide recommendation from 650 miles away.

Andretti was at residence in Nazareth, watching Andretti Autosport race the highway course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway final week when he had an concept: Colton Herta may pit early and possibly win the race.

So Andretti texted the thought — in the course of the race — to Herta’s father, Bryan. As strategist for his son, the elder Herta referred to as Colton in two laps earlier than deliberate and ended the day in victory lane.

“I used to be actually on the horn with Bryan. That’s enjoyable to me,” Andretti mentioned.

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It validated Andretti’s expertise as a strategist, however the third-generation racer doesn’t envision himself sitting atop a pit field and calling one other driver’s race. As an alternative he’s transitioning into semi-retirement and discovering his method as one thing apart from an IndyCar driver from considered one of motorsports’ famed households.

Andretti walked away from his full-time trip after the 2020 season and solely returned for final yr’s Indianapolis 500. He’s again once more this month for a seventeenth try at profitable the race that has tormented his household; Mario Andretti, his grandfather, has the one victory amongst 5 totally different Andrettis there.

When Marco begins the Could 29 race, he’ll move his father in profession begins. Dad Michael Andretti went 0 for 16, whereas Mario Andretti’s 1969 victory was his solely win in 29 begins.

“I feel I’m extra like my grandfather, I simply take pleasure in driving,” Marco Andretti mentioned. “This yr I’m going to have extra begins than Dad, which is loopy to me. When he tries to inform me one thing, I can say he doesn’t know what he’s speaking about now.”

Michael Andretti is the Indy 500 strategist for his 35-year-old son, who got here to his personal determination to shift away from the household enterprise.

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Andretti Autosport struggled to search out sponsorship for Marco forward of 2021 and he’d had sufficient, anyway. Racing wasn’t all that enjoyable anymore, and 9 straight seasons with no victory had taken its toll.

The Andretti’s have invested a lot into the Indy 500, and when Marco lastly had his personal second within the highlight, it solely resulted in one other disappointment. Marco received the pole in 2020 — when the race was run in August with out spectators due to the pandemic — however he didn’t even lead the primary lap and completed a crushing thirteenth.

His finest end over the remaining seven races of that 2020 season was fifteenth and he fell out of eligibility for the IndyCar prize fund that helps financially assist full-time groups. It was then that Marco determined he’d had sufficient.

“What I put into it, I felt like I wasn’t getting that out for numerous causes,” he mentioned.

Nonetheless, the Andrettis can’t avoid the five hundred. Marco completed an unremarkable nineteenth final season, and this yr’s Indy 500 will likely be his first IndyCar occasion in a yr.

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“That is the one which I stay my life round,” he mentioned. “I get jealous right here and there. I’m like, ‘Ah man, I want I used to be there.’ However a whole lot of occasions I don’t. Plenty of occasions when it’s 100 levels on the market, I’m good watching.”

He lives his life the way in which he chooses now. He’ll return to Tony Stewart’s six-race summer season exhibition collection for a second season when it resumes June 18. He’d prefer to run in IMSA sports activities automobiles, however solely within the prime class as a result of he’s solely curious about operating for wins.

Apart from that, he has enterprise pursuits outdoors of racing and doesn’t envision a job for himself ought to his father ultimately land the Components One workforce he’s pursuing.

Stepping away from racing has been liberating in all points of his life, he mentioned, even fan interactions.

“You signal 100 autographs and the one hundred and first individual goes to hate you, however you attempt to spend extra time, attempt to put extra of a smile in your face, which I feel is coming pure with my determination,” he mentioned. “I’ve been capable of mildew my life the way in which I wish to do it now, and even go have enjoyable on SRX and do enjoyable stuff. It nonetheless retains me within the recreation. I’m not absolutely retired. It retains me working, and I put all my vitality into this race. I’m good with out the grind of a full season.”

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Indianapolis, IN

Josh Downs expects big jump in second year with the Colts

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Josh Downs expects big jump in second year with the Colts


WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Josh Downs dazzled in the wide receiver footwork drills, making cuts that were on another level compared to the rest of the group.

He rifled his feet through the ladder.

And on Saturday’s practice, him and Anthony Richardson connected for a nice pass and catch down the sideline between two defenders.

Downs has been impressive at training camp and got off to a good start in his first year, hauling in 68 receptions on 771 yards and two touchdowns, but he expects more this year.

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“Year one to year two, it’s always been a big jump for me,” Downs said. “High school, college, it was both the same.”

He’s not exaggerating. In his freshman year at North Carolina, he had seven catches for 119 yards. That skyrocketed to 101 receptions for 1,335 yards in his sophomore year. His touchdown count also jumped from three to eight.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter agrees with Downs’ confidence. He’s been impressed with Downs so far at training camp, and thinks he’s learned a lot from his first year in the league.

“Josh (Downs) is going to make the most of that from a route running perspective from a defensive coverage identification perspective,” Cooter said. “Josh (Downs) is primed and ready to have a big camp out here and do some really good things.”

Downs is processing the game better this year. He said he’s not thinking about the route he’s running as he gets set up at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he’s analyzing the defense and determining what coverage they’re in.

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Someone that has helped him with this is cornerback Kenny Moore II. Downs considers Moore II to be at the top of his position in the NFL. He said Moore II is really smart and likes to mix it up with Downs when they’re matched up together, disguising whether he’s in man coverage or zone coverage.

Downs says he has the best slot receiver job in the league because he gets to go up against Moore II every day.

Downs has also been building his chemistry with Richardson. It’s now getting to the point where they’re running plays that aren’t in the playbook.

“We’re seeing different plays, it might not be in the playbook,” Downs said. “He’ll (Richardson) be like, ‘hey, JD, do you see this? Do that.’ I’m like, ‘I was thinking the same thing.’”

“I know Anthony (Richardson) trusts me. I trust him. We’re clicking before practice, after practice, even off the field. That’s my dog,” Downs said.

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The Colts return to practice on Sunday at Grand Park from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.



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Indianapolis, IN

PHOTOS | Indy sneakerheads line up for the new Air Jordan 4

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PHOTOS | Indy sneakerheads line up for the new Air Jordan 4


The Wet Cement edition of the the Air Jordan 4 dropped Saturday morning and about a dozen people waited for the shoes outside the Corporate store in downtown Indianapolis. The first person in line told News 8 that they got in line at 7:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. release. The “Wet Cement” Air Jordans retail for $225. (WISH Photo/Colin Baillie)

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Indianapolis, IN

IMPD: No suspect in custody in officer's shooting, but there is no 'ongoing threat'

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IMPD: No suspect in custody in officer's shooting, but there is no 'ongoing threat'


This article will update.

A police officer was injured in a shooting on the city’s far east side Friday and police were searching late into the night for whoever pulled the trigger.

Police said the event started unfolding shortly after 8:30 p.m. in the 3600 block of North Wittfield Street, near East 36th Street and North Post Road in the city’s Northeastwood neighborhood. The shooting happened after officers responded to the area on a “shots fired” call.

Shortly after the shooting police said the immediate area was not safe and residents were asked to stay inside their homes and avoid the neighborhood. About 11:15 p.m. police said a sweep of the area — including with K-9s — did not surface a suspect, but they did not believe there was an ongoing threat any longer.

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Anyone with information or video footage is asked to call 911.

“There’s a lot that we don’t know about this incident. And we’re hopeful that we will learn more later on,” Capt. Shane Foley said during a media briefing at the scene.

The 8-year veteran officer was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in stable condition.

Shortly before 1 a.m., during a briefing at the hospital, Asst. Chief Michael Wooley said a house also was hit by gunfire but no residents were struck. Wooley said no officers fired their weapons and body cameras were activated throughout the situation.

The injured officer suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and right arm and was stable after undergoing surgery, Chief Chris Bailey said.

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“He is expected to make a full recovery, although (he) is going to be in the hospital for some days,” Bailey added.

Police have not released a description of the suspect in the shooting, who remained at large early Saturday.

“Right now, officers are all over the city, looking for the individual or individuals responsible for what happened,” Bailey said.

Officers will remain in the neighborhood collecting evidence likely past sunrise, he added.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department vehicle lines the roadway after an officer was shot in the 3600 block of Wittfield Street on the city's far east side. The officer was listed in stable condition shortly after the shooting July 26, 2024.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department vehicle lines the roadway after an officer was shot in the 3600 block of Wittfield Street on the city’s far east side. The officer was listed in stable condition shortly after the shooting July 26, 2024.

Second Indianapolis police officer shot this year

This is the second time this year an Indianapolis police officer has been shot. In March an off-duty officer working security at an east side bar on East Washington Street was hit in an exchange of gunfire with at least one suspect. A man who was injured in that shooting died at a local hospital.

The bar where that shooting happened, 11:11 Bar & Grille, located at 9439 E. Washington St., was closed by unanimous vote of the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.

11:11 Bar & Grille shooting: State shuts down club where 6 people were shot, including off-duty IMPD officer

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Bar shooting: Shooting at east side bar injures multiple people including IMPD officer

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police officer shot. Suspect at large late Friday





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