John Andretti - IRL IndyCar Series

IRL IndyCar Series

On May 16, 2007, it was officially announced that Andretti would return to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 1994 when he pulled the double (competed in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day). He drove the third entry from Panther Racing, with Camping World as the sponsor. On May 19, he qualified for the 91st Indianapolis 500 with an average speed for the four lap qualifying run of 221.756 mph (356.882 km/h). He started in 24th on the eighth row, but crashed on lap 95, and finished 30th.

It was announced on May 10, 2008 that John Andretti would replace Jay Howard in the Roth Racing #24 Dallara-Honda. John qualified for his 9th Indy 500 on Saturday, May 17, 2008 with a 4-lap average of 221.550 mph (356.550 km/h) that put him 21st on the grid and finished on the lead lap in 16th place. On May 30 it was announced that Andretti would continue in the #24 car in the Milwaukee Mile and Texas Motor Speedway races. On June 6 Andretti was offered a deal that would keep him in the car the rest of the season which he ultimately did not accept.

Andretti’s run with Roth Racing produced some notable results for the team. He managed to qualify 7th at the Texas Motor Speedway race. Although a great start, he would ultimately wind up finishing 16th. He began his trip to Iowa Speedway with a rough 23rd position start, but steadily worked his way through the field to capture an 11th place finish. His 11th place finish was the best for a Roth Racing machine. His last start for the team was at Richmond International Raceway the next week where he was knocked out by a crash. Roth Racing contracted to a single car for the rest of the season and ceased operations at the end of the season. Andretti finished 30th in the 2008 IndyCar points standings.

In April 2009 Andretti and NASCAR car owner Richard Petty announced a joint venture with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing where Andretti would return to Indianapolis to drive the #43 car in the 93rd Indianapolis 500. As in his previous two trips to Indianapolis, Andretti did not race the Indy/Charlotte double in the same day, and also missed the Southern 500 as well as the Coca-Cola 600 to prepare for the race. Andretti qualified for the race on bump day in 28th, and finished the race in 19th, the final car on the lead lap. Andretti returned to drive the #34 at Front Row Motorsports immediately following the Indianapolis 500, returning for the Dover 400 in June.

On March 31, 2010, Andretti announced that he would join forces with both Richard Petty and Window World again, but this time by running in two events instead of just one. The #43 returns to the entry, which this year will be backed Andretti Autosport, owned by John's cousin Michael. The team's first race was the RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway on May 1. Andretti qualified 15th but worked his way up to finish in 9th, one lap down. They also competed 94th Indianapolis 500 on May 30. After failing to qualify on pole day, Andretti made the race on bump day qualifying 28th for the second consecutive year. Andretti crashed out of the race on lap 65, and was credited with a 30th place finish.

John Andretti has announced that he will compete in the running of the 100th Anniversary 2011 Indianapolis 500. John Andretti partnered with Window World, Richard Petty, and Andretti Autosport to compete in the 2011 Indianapolis 500, where he finished 22nd.