Marco Andretti

Talk about the past meeting the future. Cheever, the oldest driver in the race at 48 takes out Marco the youngest driver at 19. His first F1 start was in '78!. Cheever also runs in the current F1 Masters Series. He needs to pull over and let the young guns race.

One of the main reasons for Michael's F1 lack of results was the change in the rules for testing at F1 tracks just before the start of the season. The rule change didn't allow for testing at tracks that were used to hold races. Therefore, his first actual laps on track were for pratice and qualifying. Not the best way to learn the fastest way around a track. As far as his former wife, all I remember of her is those big hats she'd wear at Indy. She was the Tammy Faye Baker of the racing world.

 

i met marco last october i believe at laguna seca for a star mazda race at the fueling station....

i was actually unsure who he was at the time because i dont keep to up to date on IRL/CART stuff so i dont often hear andretti come up in conversation.

I must say it was the worst race i ever watched. i climbed all the way to the top of the hill and there was about 3 green flag laps the wohle race and it was a timed race so it was a gigantic waste of time for everyone involved. I am not 100% sure but i seem to remember him nailing someone at the braking point on Turn 2, i believe it was the 3rd attempt at the race getting a clean first lap...frustration on my part.

I wont be rooting for him if he goes to F1. i do not see how his IRL experience will help him since he'll only know how to drive on left turn courses...

I'm still rooting for Kathrine Legge...hopeing she gets a testing ride next winter in F1


not fans of anyone from IRL (it's just nascar to me)

 

If I remember correctly, Micheal A. signed for McLaren that season before Senna made up his mind. Ron Dennis had a contract with Hakkinen too. When Senna re-signed just before the start of the season, McLaren had 3 drivers!
Dennis decided to race Senna (of course) and Michael, but had to honour his contract with Hakkinen regarding track time; so most of the testing was done by Hakkinen and Andretti never had enough laps to familiarise himself with the car. His constant travelling to and from the States didn't make him readilly available either for testing, or able to 'bond' with the team.
Senna was already well acquainted with the team and the car.
Michael came straight from Champcars to F1, not knowing many of the GP circuits; another handicap.
If we look at Mario Andretti, he had been participating in road racing on many European circuits before doing a FULL season in F1 (previously he did a few GP each year, March, Ferrari?). In other words, Mario came to GP progressivelly while Michael jumped straight in a top team which had a lot of expectations, and felt the pressure right away from the media, the sponsors, etc...
Mario Andretti explained all that in an interview several years ago when asked to analyse his success and Michael's failure. Mario said that after 2 months, Ron Dennis had lost interest in Michael and was just waiting for him to leave (he wouldn't sack him because of the financial penalties included in the contract clauses) and was hugely relieved when he decided to go 2 GP before the end of the season. The parting was not amicable, and also Michael was not very liked in the team by the mechanics.
If he intends to do F1, Marco shouldn't repeat his father's mistake. I would think that Marco has to come to Europe and learn his craft through one of the various formulae, discover the circuits and see how an European team (all GP teams are European, aren't they?) operates. Being good, ever very good on ovals doesn't necessarilly make you F1 material, and vice-versa.
F1 is highly technical, testing is essential (it isn't a 2-make formula like Champcar or IRL), and drivers have to develop their car themselves.

 

All the discussion about what Michael did in the past is moot, 1993 is as different today as 1978 was to 1993. Compare the budgets of 1978 to 1993, to 2006. It's all business now.

If Marco is to succeed in F1, it will be because of his ability, AND his name: being able to bring money with him.

Can anyone else on here think of another driver that can do ALL of the above ?
I can't.
One or the other, but not both. An average driver brought money to an IRL team - and got killed.