IPS: Indianapolis: Marco Andretti race notes

LATE-RACE INCIDENT LEAVES ANDRETTI WITH 16TH PLACE FINISH IN FIRST PRO SERIES START AT INDIANAPOLIS

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 27, 2005) While trying to avoid the spinning car of German Quiroga just three laps from the finish of the Futaba Freedom 100, Marco Andretti was forced to spin the #26 Vonage Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone, which ended his day and left him with a 16th place finish in his first-ever race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Andretti, who won in his only other Menards Infiniti Pro Series start at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 3, started 10th in the 18-car field and was running 10th at the time of the accident. Following the spin, Andretti brought the Vonage machine to the pit lane and put an end to his day.

Andretti's next Pro Series appearance will also be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he competes in the Liberty Challenge on June 18, which will be a road-course event and run in conjunction with the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix.

Marco Andretti, #26 Vonage Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone:

"This was a character-builder for sure. I learned a lot just with the bad things that were happening. The car wasn't handling very good. I was battling a really loose car, so I learned a lot about how that is not a fun way to drive around this place.

"It's awesome to drive here, but once you get going then it becomes just another race. It was special for me because it was my first oval and, man, it's different. I've got a lot to learn when it comes to that because I'm a road course driver.

"I just can't let myself get frustrated. It was my first race on an oval and we had some problems. I was loose -- big-time loose."

-agr-