As Marco Andretti was getting ready for this week’s Izod Indy Car race the Indy Japan 300 we talked about the first ever Baltimore Grand Prix and how he sees the rest of the season playing out. The race can be seen Saturday at 11:30p.m. on Versus, heard on Sirius-XM Indy Racing Channel 94 or broadband at Indycar.com.
JW: What were your impressions of the Baltimore Grand Prix?
Andretti: “It was fantastic on all levels. It was great to see such large crowds and since we were not far from our home in Nazareth, Pennsylvania we had plenty of fans there cheering us on. The track was challenging and I really think that it was the best street race that we have had all year. That is not meant in any way as a slight to either St. Petersburg or Long Beach, both do an outstand job of putting on fine races. But for Baltimore to do so well in their first time out and drawing such large east coast crowds I think it is going to just get better every year.”
JW: How important is the Japan race to you?
Andretti:”Well Jim as you know we are still very much in the battle to win the oval racing championship in the Izod Series. So my guys at Andretti Autosport are working to give me a car is capable of winning any of the final three races. This weekend in Japan, we run a road course, normally it would be the oval course but they had damage there during the tragic earthquake so we have changed over and we will run their other course. That
means to get the oval title I really must win in Kentucky October 2nd to have a chance at the oval title.”
JW: How much pressure is on you to carry the Andretti name in racing?
Andretti: “To be honest neither my grandfather [Mario] nor my father [Michael] have ever pushed me to do anything in racing. I wanted to be a race car driver and my family supported me in that career move. It is the family business but at the end of the day my success in this business rests on my ability as a driver, not the great things that either my grandfather or father has done. I love them both and they have had amazing careers the best way I can show my respect to them is to be the best driver and person that I can be. Having the Andretti name for me is an honor and not a curse. “
