INDIANAPOLIS – Marco Andretti was 2 months old, the last time his revered racing family turned the field green at the Indianapolis 500. In this early pandemic-plagued season, he ended a 33-year-old Andretti drought by winning the pole.
That deranged “Andretti Speed” has haunted three generations of racers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1969, when Mario Andretti won his only Indy 500. Now his grandson, with a lightning-fast and frightening four laps around the highway, has cleared the first obstacle to an elusive victory.
Mario Andretti was 1-for-29 in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, with only three career poles, his last in 1987. His son, Michael, never won a pole and his best finish in 16 strokes was second in 1991. Jeff Andretti went 0-for-3. John Andretti was 0-for-12 and Marco is 0-for-14.
In his 15th attempt, he will try to end that family curse once and for all.
The last of nine drivers Sunday to make a qualifying race, Marco Andretti logged an average of four laps of 231,068 mph to knock five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon off the pole. Andretti took care of the wind all morning and relied on advice that his grandfather had long given the family’s racers the courage to keep it wide open for four laps around one of the most famous tracks in motorsport.
“The wind will scare you, but it will never crash you,” said Marco Andretti, adjusting his grandfather to his run.
He seemed to have tears in his eyes and his hands seemed to shake too briefly as a driver after driver congratulated him on the pit track. Then came a strong embrace with his father, Michael, owner of the six Andretti entrances in the restored August 23 race.
“Of course, I was emotional. We put so much into it. This place means so much to us as a family,” said Marco Andretti. “We’ve just been through so many ups and downs in this place. Of course, mine [late] cousin, John, rides with me, my grandfather from home.
“We know that family attracts us. We live and breathe this sport, this race in particular.”
At his home in Pennsylvania, 80-year-old Mario Andretti said he “has never been so nervous in my life” when he saw his grandmother on television.
“I’m happier now than I’ve ever been,” Andretti told NBC Sports. “I jumped so high I hit my head on the ceiling and it’s a 9 foot ceiling. He knows what he needs to do to get the best out of the car and minimize mistakes. He’s seriously focused on winning. of 500. “
In a normal year, Marco Andretti would have received a thunderous ovation after his run. But the coronavirus pandemic forced new track manager Roger Penske to close the gates for the first time in the race’s 104-year history. Spectators even showed up during the Great Depression, but this year only a small gathering in a ground parking lot on the other side of the highway street was seen through a gate open between the grandstands, when Andretti set a blistering pace.
“An Andretti on the pole at Indianapolis – sorry we can not explode the crowd,” said teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay. The drivers of Team Penske, who were watching from the garage, were one of the rivals who carried Andretti’s mom.
The Andretti organization had four of nine spots in Sunday’s shooting for the pole and a shot at the sweep of the front row. But the speed the team showed on Saturday dropped to Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi, and it was Dixon at 231,051 mph who jumped to the top of the board.
“Man, I did not think we had a chance,” said Michael Andretti.
But his son kept it wide open in an attempt of bravery in windy conditions on a hot racetrack. Marco Andretti was ninth in order, aware of the number Dixon had posted, and refused to flinch.
“Honestly, Marco was the man I was hoping for because I think he deserved it,” said Dixon, who was beaten for the pole and later spun in Sunday afternoon practice.
“That’s a difficult situation to get into, especially by standing at the end and everything is on the line. We threw up a decent number. It would not be easy to defeat.”
Andretti will sit in the front row alongside two previous Indy 500 winners. Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing qualified second and Takuma Sato finished third for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Rinus VeeKay, a 19-year-old rookie for Ed Carpenter Racing, finished fourth and the only Chevrolet driver in the top nine. Hunter-Reay and Hinchcliffe filled the second row. Alex Palou, a rookie for Dale Coyne Racing, finished seventh and will start alongside Graham Rahal and Rossi.
Positions 10 to 33 were set in Saturday’s qualifier, when Honda dominated and Chevrolet struggled to match the same speed. This means that none of the four Team Penske entries on Sunday had a chance at the pole and reigning series champion Josef Newgarden in 13th is the highest starting Penske driver. Defensive race winner Simon Pagenaud starts 25th.
Marco Andretti, meanwhile, has a full week to absorb his pole-winning run; the pressure will inevitably increase as he is now the favorite to win the Indy 500. His family had suffered a great heartbeat on this track, the curse could not break in 51 years.
“I hope Andretti’s curse does not exist in August,” he said.
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