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Wednesday, Mar. 05, 2008
More than 40 years after a member of the Andretti family first competed at Sebring, the famous racing name is returning to the cockpit for the Twelve Hours of Sebring sports car endurance race.
Marco Andretti will co-drive an Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX-01b along with Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi in the March 15 race at the Florida track.
Marco will follow in the footsteps of grandfather Mario Andretti, a three-time overall winner at Sebring.
“I’m really looking forward to getting into the car,” said Andretti, who will turn 21 on March 13. “I’ve had a chance to drive the car in a couple of tests and I’ve been very happy with it. The car has been really quick, fun to drive and has been incredibly durable.”
Sebring will be the first start in the American Le Mans Series for Andretti. In combining with Herta and Fittipaldi in the XM Acura, Andretti is jumping into a car that took the ALMS LMP2 class win at Sebring in 2007 in the first Series start for the team and for Acura.
“What Bryan was able to do last year, in Acura’s very first start, was amazing,” Andretti said. “I think I’ll be able to contribute and, hopefully, run up front. My grandfather has won three times at Sebring and I hope to add my name to that list.”
If he does it this year, it will be in a car co-owned by father Michael Andretti, also a longtime driving star.
“This is a great opportunity for Marco, but also gives us a great lineup for the 12 Hours of Sebring,” Michael Andretti said. “We really feel like we’ve got three very fast drivers that are smart enough to have the XM car around at the end, and that is obviously very critical in a race like this. Marco has tested well and has proven he’s up to the challenge.”
Marco Andretti also drives for his father’s IRL IndyCar Series team and will be starting his third season in that car on March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.