Filed under: Motorsports
He's the real deal: Marco Andretti scores first big league win
In case you thought his nearly winning the Indy 500 was a fluke, on Sunday Marco Andretti became the youngest driver in U.S. history to win a major-league open wheel race when he captured the Infineon Indy Grand Prix in Sonoma, California. The 19 year-old son of Michael Andretti, and grandson of former world champion Mario Andretti, also locked up the IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year title in the process.
Marco beat Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti to the line by only 0.6 seconds, after gaining the lead on a brilliant out-of-sequence pit stop call by crew chief Kyle Moyer. The two AGR cars were 10 seconds clear of third place Vitor Meira (Panther Racing).
On the championship front, the IndyCar Series heads into its last race at Chicagoland Speedway with Helio Castroneves holding just a one-point lead over Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr.
[Source: Honda]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dpratt 9:49AM (8/29/2006)
The IRL is considered 'big league' racing?
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felonious.monk 1:12PM (8/29/2006)
"The IRL is considered 'big league' racing?"
Big League to those who give a damn about it, which is about 1% of auto racing fans in this country?
He's got access to two highly experienced coaches 24/7. How is this a big deal? Of course he's going to excel. Duh.
Next!
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JP240Z 2:07PM (8/29/2006)
Kid's got some potential, but let's see what he can do in a real race car (ChampCar, ALMS, heck, even an Atlantic is more race car than those IndyCar boat anchors), in a series people actually care about and, most importantly, on a team where his teamate doesn't hand him the ol' spin 'n win.
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Defender 2:08PM (8/29/2006)
It sounds like the crew chief won the race on his strategy. To be the "Real Deal", I think a driver must pass a car on track.
Oh yeah, when did the IRL become "big league racing".
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Jerry 2:09PM (8/29/2006)
The Real Deal? He won by a (and I quote the author) a brilliant out of sequence pit strategy. He also needed his team mate to intentially spinout to cause a full course yellow to get him to the checkers.
Yeah....he's an o.k. driver but that's it!
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PT#1 2:34PM (8/29/2006)
IRL big leagues?! AHAHAHAHA!!!! Stuart you know nothing!
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Wilke 2:34PM (8/29/2006)
I guess we all know this is how DP will win her 1st race next year.
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paper 2:45PM (8/29/2006)
Marco is my favorite driver, I'm so glad he won.
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Padre 2:45PM (8/29/2006)
Rumor has it that Kevin Kalkoven is selling out Champcar to Tony George next year. It's really too bad for all those Champcar fans who were so supportive. I guess they'll have to watch Indy.
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Mindytruth 2:46PM (8/29/2006)
As much as I dislike the IRL and obsess about it, deep down I love Marco and the Indy 500.
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Longshanx 2:51PM (8/29/2006)
I love Mario, Micheal and now Marco. It's unreal how far the IRL has come. Next year with Danica Patrick and Marco, it should be an awesome year !!!! Go Team Andretti.
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Chief 2:52PM (8/29/2006)
I am slowly starting to like the IRL more and more. I hate to admit it, but they blow away Champcar. I had to take a break from autoracing because I got so worked up about it, I almost had a heart attack. But I'm back and I love the IRL and Marco.
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The Flapper 2:54PM (8/29/2006)
Marco! Are you kidding me! What a sham the IRL is! Having a team mate spin to bring out a caution to conserve fuel to win the race! pathetic really
The Flapper
If I had his money I would do things my way
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Andrew 2:58PM (8/29/2006)
ARCA has more fans than the IRL. Maybe when he wins a race with real drivers and real car, then we can talk. In 5 years, no one will remember the IRL anyway.
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Andrews brother 3:09PM (8/29/2006)
Compared to Champcar, the IRL has double the fans. No one will remember Champcar in a year. Attendance is down and the TV ratings for CC is really a joke. Why do you think they have no sponsors and no name drivers. Heck 7 of their 16 drivers are rookies. Too bad for CC.
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Turd13 3:15PM (8/29/2006)
How do you know that the toothbrush was invented by an IRL fan?
If a Champ Car fan invented it, it would be called a teethbrush.
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Turd13 3:31PM (8/29/2006)
There's an IRL driving to Indy, and a Champ Car fan driving. In the middle of the night with no other cars on the road they hit each other head on and both cars go flying off in different directions.
The Champ Car fan manages to climb out of his car and surveys the damage. He looks at his twisted car and says "Man, I'm really lucky to be alive"!
Likewise the IRL fan scrambles out of his car and looks at his wreckage. He too says to himself, " I can't believe I survived this wreck!" The IRL fan walks over to the Hawk fan and says, "Hey man, I think this is a sign from God that we should put away our petty differences and live as friends instead of arch rivals."
The Champ Car fan thinks for a moment and says," You know, you're absolutely right. We should be friends. Let's see what else survived this wreck"! So the Champ Car fan pops his trunk and finds a full bottle of Jack Daniels. He says to the IRL Fan, "I think this is another sign from God that we should toast to our newfound understanding and friendship."
The IRL fan says, "You're right!" He takes the bottle and starts sucking down Jack Daniels. After putting away nearly half the bottle the IRL fan hands it back to the Champ Car backer and says, "Your turn."
The Champ Car fan twists the cork back on the bottle and says. "Nah, I think I'll wait for the cops to show up."
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Carson Palmer's Knee 3:37PM (8/29/2006)
By Marco Andretti winning, you mean Herta staging the finish by "spinning out?" bwahaha. and Jeff George rules Tony George any day.
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Jerry 4:14PM (8/29/2006)
Please note the most of the Pro-IRL comments are totally BS by a cpl of Gomers
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Andrews brother 4:55PM (8/29/2006)
Duh, gee thanx Jerry. you dumbass
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