Marco: 'I Want To Get It Done in the Worst Way'
May 22, 2015 | By Phillip B. Wilson, IMS.com Correspondent
Three generations of Indycar racing engaged in interesting dinner conversation Wednesday night about the Indianapolis 500.
Marco Andretti was chatting with his father, Michael, and grandfather, Mario, about how Sunday’s 99th annual race could be Marco’s time to shine.
Mario was 29 when he won the 1969 Indy 500. Michael was 29 when he dominated this race in 1992, leading 160 laps and enjoying a two-lap advantage when his fuel pump failed with just 11 laps remaining.
Marco is 28 and, much like his family dinner companions, has had so many close calls at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was second in his Indy 500 debut in 2006, losing the lead to Sam Hornish Jr. about 450 feet from the finish line. The youngest Andretti has been third three times, in 2008, 2010 and again last year, as well as fourth in 2013.
“It’s been 10 years of knocking on the door of this thing,” Marco said Thursday. “I want to get it done in the worst way.”
Driving again for his father, Marco’s No. 27 Snapple Andretti Autosport Honda will start on the middle of Row 3.
“I’m starting to knock on the door age-wise,” Marco said, “and feel that I’m sort of old enough to make wiser decisions, knowing when to back off, sort of risk versus reward, but I’m still quick enough that I haven’t lost that feeling as a rookie, that there’s still no fear involved.”
If anyone can identify with Marco’s desire, it’s his father. Michael retired with the dubious distinction of having led the most laps, 431, without an Indy 500 victory. He led the race nine times in 16 starts with a top finish of second in 1991. Michael has been able to celebrate in Victory Lane three times as a car owner, with Dan Wheldon in 2005, Dario Franchitti in 2007 and with Ryan Hunter-Reay last year.
Although Mario won in just his fifth start, he had to answer so many questions about trying to win the greatest race again throughout his legendary Hall of Fame career. He, too, had so many close calls in 29 Indy 500 starts. He sat on the pole three times and his six top-five finishes including two seconds. Fair or not, the “Andretti curse” was born.
Marco admits he’s had to answer those continual questions, too.
“Yeah, once or twice,” he said with a smile.
Does he give the same stock answer?
“I change it every time,” he said.
He’s joking of course, trying to make light of the obvious. The answer is still the same. Nothing means more than the Indy 500. Nothing else compares.
“Since my first go, we’ve been close every year,” he said. “Honestly, I think this place picks you. It picks the winner. We just have to keep coming and knocking on the door. You could let it frustrate you, but I think it’s a good thing we’re there every year.”
Tony Kanaan has been there, too.
“I know the feeling,” Kanaan said.
Andretti’s former teammate became increasingly frustrated by his near-misses, five top-five finishes in 11 years, before finally swigging the milk and getting his oft-mentioned big nose on the Borg-Warner Trophy in 2013.
The popular Brazilian, who now drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, offers the same perspective as Marco about how IMS seemingly picks the winner. And it’s easy to get impatient.
“I think Marco is a huge contender to win this race,” Kanaan said. “And I know how important this race is for him, not just for him but even before he was born, the history of Mario and then Michael. It was so unfortunate for (Michael) here (not winning) all those times.
“I think it adds a little bit too much pressure to Marco, which I feel kind of bad for him sometimes. But over the years, I think he’s overcome that. I think he’s ready.”
Marco also gets asked a lot about his debut, if he’s changed much from being that 19-year-old rookie who could see the checkered flag waving for him until Hornish’s Team Penske car sped ahead for a 0.0635-second margin of victory.
“What’s funny is I’m not different at all,” he said. “My post-race interview after that race, I was so mad. And I got criticized for how I acted. Honestly, in any other race, it’s so different, you know what I mean? I would be so happy, for a 19-year-old rookie, it’s second place, it’s good points.
“But Indy is Indy. Second place, you don’t get a Borg.”
The thought of winning at Indy is overwhelming at times.
“Honestly, I have to stop myself from thinking about how amazing it would be to pull this off and really just focus on the task at hand,” Marco said.
But blocking out that dream is impossible. It can consume him at all hours.
“Honestly, when I wake up and when I go to bed, that’s the only thing I’m striving for,” he said.
“It’s just this place, the magnitude of what this event brings. Waking up that morning and seeing all the people funnel in, that’s what we live for, for sure. It’s the biggest race of our season but it’s the biggest race in the world.
“I want to win more than ever. I get more and more anxious. After the checkered flag, if we didn’t win, I can’t wait another 364 days to do it again. The day is almost here again. It’s my favorite day of the year.”