Marco Andretti makes history with IRL win
Grandson of Mario becomes youngest winner of major open-wheel race
 Darrell Ingham / Getty Images Mario Andretti, left, hugs grandson Marco Andretti after the 19-year-old won his first IRL IndyCar Series race Sunday. |
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SONOMA, Calif. - Marco Andretti has won before at Infineon Raceway. Never like this.
The 19-year-old Andretti used the improbable combination of speed, fuel strategy and a little luck to win his first IndyCar victory in his 13th start in the series Sunday to become the youngest winner of a major open-wheel race in history.
Andretti gambled twice on fuel, then benefited from a caution late in the race to hold off Dario Franchitti by 0.66 seconds and win the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.
“We knew this is one track we could have a shot at it, but we knew how tough it was going to be. It was definitely close on fuel,” Andretti said.
His first gamble came on lap 51 of the 80-lap IndyCar Series race, when he stayed out to take the lead while much of the field pitted during a caution. Andretti had stopped for fuel on lap 44, and nursed it the rest of the way after building up a hefty lead over No. 2 Tony Kanaan to take the checkered flag in the next-to-last race of the season.
His father and team owner, Michael Andretti, told his son to conserve fuel in the final 10 laps, but kids don’t always mind their dad. Especially once Franchitti got around Kanaan and began closing in.
“I knew he was coming,” Andretti said. “It was the toughest thing I had to do — go fast and try to save fuel.”
Andretti won with his father, the co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, and his famous grandfather, Mario, winner of the 1969 Indy 500, looking on.
“Being able to bounce things off the two best in the business definitely helps,” Marco Andretti said.
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Andretti said it was a bigger thrill than finishing second this year in the Indianapolis 500, one spot ahead of his father.
“This was a win. It’s definitely the best feeling all year for sure,” he said.
He also won here a year ago in an Indy Pro Series race. His father said at the time he thought his son might soon be ready to move up.
Michael Andretti just shrugged when asked if his son could have finished Sunday’s race without the caution on the 73rd lap.
“We’ll never know for sure if he would have made it on fuel without the yellow. He was driving hard and was the fastest car on the track,” Michael Andretti said.
Vitor Meira finished third, 10.65 seconds behind the winner, followed by Dixon and Helio Castroneves.
Castroneves’ finish edged him into the IndyCar points lead by one over his Marlboro Team Penske teammate, Sam Hornish. Hornish, who entered with a seven-point lead over Castroneves, finished ninth. Target Chip Ganassi teammates Dan Wheldon and Dixon are 19 and 21 points, respectively, behind Castroneves.
“It’s really close. We came here to take as many points as we could,” Castroneves said. “Now, let’s go to Chicago. The odds are it probably will help Sam a little because he’s more familiar with the ovals. I can’t wait. I wish the race could be next week.”
The event at Infineon Raceway’s 12-turn, 2.26-mile road course eliminated Meira and Kanaan from championship contention, setting up a two-team shootout at the final race on Sept. 10.
Franchitti, who couldn’t gain ground on Andretti after a final yellow with seven laps to go, praised the young IRL rookie-of-the-year.
“He was definitely a little bit faster than I was today. He drove a great race,” Franchitti said. “That last yellow probably cost us the win, because Marco was having fuel problems.”
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Michael Andretti was relieved his son was being chased at the end by a teammate.
“I was happy that Dario was out there behind him, because I knew he wouldn’t do anything too stupid.”
It gave the team a 1-2 finish and its second victory of the season. Kanaan got the other one at Milwaukee.
Marco Andretti, who fought a nagging chest cold all weekend, started the race second, next to pole sitter Dixon. Dixon ran away from the field at the outset until problems with a tire change on lap 51 dropped him out of contention.
Mario Andretti said his grandson drove well beyond his age.
“He was so smart and so patient. He managed his fuel and his tires, and he was still fast,” he said. “Marco drove like a true champion today.”
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