Future of Marco Andretti

[MaskedRacer]

What do you think about how much is left in him if there was ever anything at all? What has been the issue with him? Does he just lack the talent to be a good driver in IndyCar? Perhaps he only got to drive this long because of his last name? I wonder if he psychologically never recovered from blowing the Indy 500 in 2006. He just invited Hornish to pass him on the last straight offered no resistance at all

[jakew7498]

Now, he definitely does have his drive because of his last name and his lack of speed has been far more apparent during this year more than those i've seen.

If he leaves AA, I don't think many other teams would offer him a drive because of other talent being available. Newgarden's a free unless ECR offer him a contract as well as others in Indy Lights.

[NaBUru38]

Andrettiś best results in 2016 where a 9th at Detroit 2 and a 10th at Toronto.

Daly and Aleshin got a 2nd place finishes.
Sato had two 5th finishes. Chilton and Pigot got a 7th.

[rwintle]

One win ten years ago. Average of fewer than 2 podiums a year over the last 11 seasons.

He did finish as high as fifth in the championship one year, for what that's worth. And he's been on the podium at the Indy 500 four times, which is probably way better than average.

But there are certainly better drivers without rides, and better drivers who never had a seat with a top-tier team like Andretti during those years (Justin Wilson jumps to mind, as one example).

[fieldodreams79]

Correct me if I am wrong, but drivers / teams aren't really lining up to compete in the series these days (33 entries for this year's 500 e.g.), so I'm not sure if Marco is displacing anyone, ATM, but he likely has in the past.

I grew up in an "AJ Foyt household," if you follow me, and therefore the name "Andretti" was never really spoken of too fondly (gross understatement). I've softened over the years, but Pops still thinks they all are overrated. Marco certainly is and I think he'll have a good time racing for his dad, winning very little over his entire career.

This is far too much effort into the "Marco" subject than I ever wanted to go.

[rwintle]

I think a good comparator might be Charlie Kimball: no big family name, one major sponsor. Six podiums in six seasons, one win, one podium at the 500, highest championship ranking 9th. Drives for a top-shelf team.

Inevitable Graham Rahal comparison: 18 podiums in 9 seasons, four wins, one Indy 500 podium. 4th in the championship last year.

Not sure what all of this might mean, but Marco doesn't appear to be terribly unsuccessful compared to many other IndyCar drivers (better record than Kimball for sure, based on podiums per year and Indy 500 results).

[Hawkwood]

Andretti's 2 race wins is not good for just about 11 full seasons of racing for a big team.

[D.R.T.]

He has a sponsor and he has his fathers team.

He isn't going anywhere.

He looked one of the best on super speedways (especially Indy) from 2012 - 2015 however could never get it over the line.

Look at Graham Rahal though. Initial success and then a flat period which was only boosted in the last 2 seasons but has come on super strong. Not sure what that change was the triggered it - but if I was Marco I would be chatting to Graham.

For Indycar to continue its growth, Andretti winning races would be just the shot in the arm it needs.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

Andretti's 2 race wins is not good for just about 11 full seasons of racing for a big team.

Just one, right? Sonoma 2006? I could be missing one though.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Of course this debate is going to be made into something more than it's worth due to his last name, Andretti. There will be some who will be keen to see the name stay, who believe Marco has something left to offer, and/or is just having a poor season, and the crowd on the other side who seem to believe that by being a 2nd/3rd/4th (no 5th yet I believe) generation driver, you have a surname that provides the individual with far more opportunity than the talent actually there, and that the main factor behind any career is the surname itself.

Marco did get another win, Iowa 2011 iirc.

[Yannick]

To this observer, Marco Andretti's driving doesn't seem to have been the same since his big shunt at the 2007 Indy 500. If you remember the "pass in the grass" that got Ryan Hunter-Reay past Helio Castroneves in Turn 3 near the finish of the 2014 Indy 500, take a look at the lap before: Marco tried something similar on Hunter-Reay right there and then but backed out of it, being cautious.

Marco Andretti regularly runs towards the front on ovals. Not this year, though, which is largely down to his aero kit supplier. He is also great at low fuel consumption runs on road and street courses: the strategy that won his teammate Carlos Munoz his first IndyCar victory in the rain in Detroit in 2015 was Marco's idea. He shared it with his team and as a result, lost out to his team mate.

This year, it's also showing that road and street course qualifying and damper development seem to be his weaknesses as a driver. If he can improve in these areas, he's where he needs to be.

Throughout his career, he has lost quite a few races through bad fuel and tire strategies. Also, he is more of an oval specialist in a time when road and street courses dominate the schedule.

[S griffin]

I just feel like he is a good one and only the results are not coming to him as often as he would have liked

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Marco did get another win, Iowa 2011 iirc.

And so he did. Thanks.

[fieldodreams79]

Paul Tracy just said during The Glen race broadcast the only other ride Marco could get is with Uber. ZING!

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Paul Tracy just said during The Glen race broadcast the only other ride Marco could get is with Uber. ZING!

Couldn't remember who said it but even the other guys all paused to take it in and not laugh too much.

But he apparently has H H Gregg on board as HIS sponsor so that helps him stay in a car.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Couldn't remember who said it but even the other guys all paused to take it in and not laugh too much.

But he apparently has H H Gregg on board as HIS sponsor so that helps him stay in a car.

I heard a snicker over my laughing outburst.

[bjohnsonsmith]

An interesting article about Marco Andretti's future.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/13...ming-for-marco

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Paul Tracy just said during The Glen race broadcast the only other ride Marco could get is with Uber. ZING!

I heard that too. So rude.

[mountainstar]

I said 10 years ago on this forum that if his last name wasn't Andretti you never would have heard of him and it certainly helped his father had a team he could slot into.

Just because you have a certain last name it doesn't automatically guarantee you have the DNA talent or ability. Why people put so much stock in such nepotism I do not understand. That someone is a "son of" means zip to me. I'm interested in new people, new blood, not the same old family retreads.