What does Andretti International appear like after Michael Andretti took a step again?
It is a query many have contemplated for the reason that crew proprietor stepped down as Chairman and CEO in September, handing the reins off to Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss. Andretti stays a strategic advisor to the group he co-founded in 2002.
The notion was that it was the final key to unlock the System 1 door for the Andretti-Cadillac effort, which occurred in late November as Liberty Media accepted Normal Motors because the eleventh crew for 2026. GM, underneath its Cadillac banner, will begin as a buyer crew earlier than making its personal engines by the top of the last decade, utilizing the prevailing Andretti International mission in Silverstone because the pillar.
Whereas the Cadillac F1 program continues to take form, there may be additionally a concentrate on Andretti’s IndyCar department because the 2025 season is a few 46 days away.
Regardless of all the modifications inside Andretti International, Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Honda-powered entry, nonetheless feels the presence of his former crew proprietor and legendary racer.
“We solely see it as positives inside the crew,” stated Kirkwood. “Clearly Michael continues to be round. It isn’t like he is vanished. I feel he’ll nonetheless play a job within the crew, and for us, clearly I’ve that reference to not solely Michael however with everyone on the crew.
“We’re excited to go ahead, and clearly Dan and Michael have a plan, and their plan appears to be coming collectively, so we’re excited.”
Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International Honda
Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photos
And hopes are excessive for the group after a stout 2024 season in IndyCar, which noticed Colton Herta elevate his sport and seize two wins, six podiums, 11 prime fives and three poles en path to a career-best second within the championship standings. For his half, Kirkwood additionally put collectively a decent marketing campaign, ending a career-high seventh within the championship standings courtesy of 1 podium, 5 prime fives, 13 prime 10s and one pole. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, was an outlier among the many trio, struggling an underwhelming first yr with the crew by ending fifteenth within the general standings.
“I feel with final yr’s outcomes, it gave me much more motivation to work even tougher,” stated Ericsson, driver of the No. 28 Honda. “I do not actually — I am not a believer in unhealthy luck. Lots of people would say to me, ‘Sorry for final yr, unhealthy luck.’ I do not actually consider in that. I feel you make your individual luck.
“I simply did not do a ok job final yr, so I wish to ensure that I am higher this yr. I put in quite a lot of work with my psychological coach. We have now weekly classes. I placed on 10 kilos of muscle on my bodily standing. I am stronger than I’ve ever been earlier than and I’ve began working doing simulator work by myself, so I am driving simulators nearly day by day simply to apply since we do not have a lot driving within the low season, attempting to finesse my craft within the simulators.”
Though Herta introduced again the bravado of Andretti in 2024, he acknowledged that it “actually sucks” to complete second — solely 31 factors quick — to Alex Palou for the title. Andretti International haven’t received a title since 2012 with Ryan Hunter-Reay, with Chip Ganassi Racing and Group Penske combining to seize the final 12 IndyCar championships.
In reflection of what labored on unlocking that subsequent step for the crew, Herta was fast to notice the good points made on the quick and medium ovals.
“We have been good on superspeedways for essentially the most half, however that was type of the lacking piece for us, particularly once you take a look at the championship for our years that we dropped quite a lot of factors in these locations,” stated Herta, who will make his a centesimal IndyCar begin within the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2.
“However we turned it round having a podium and principally a prime 5 in Milwaukee and a pole in Iowa. [At] Gateway, we got here from twenty fifth to fourth and the win in Nashville. We type of improved rather a lot on these medium and shorter ovals, and that was type of the distinction maker for us.
“In order that fills me with quite a lot of confidence as a result of I do not assume our downside has actually ever been the road programs, and for essentially the most half we have been excellent at a lot of the street programs. However these ovals have type of — for me, too, simply have not been my finest, and I feel they began to indicate that they are often a few of my finest for this coming yr.”
Colton Herta, Andretti International w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda
Picture by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photos
And on the subject of the Cadillac F1 program, which Herta has not solely been linked to, but in addition tabbed by 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti, who’s now on the board of GM’s racing program, there isn’t a lot misery over the scenario by the previous.
“Yeah, I do not actually have a priority with it in any respect,” Herta stated. “I’ve type of been dragged round on this speak for, it appears like, half a decade now. I’ve had the carrot in entrance of me for some time.
“I am type of bored with that being the case, and I simply wish to drive at this level and concentrate on IndyCar this yr and concentrate on profitable a championship, and if one thing arises out of that, I might have to consider it. It is nonetheless not a for certain factor.
“All my family and friends are right here within the U.S., and I do not know anyone the place I am going, so it is a massive resolution to make if I’ve to make that call.”
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Joey Barnes
IndyCar
Andretti Autosport
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