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Andretti Autosport drivers preview St. Pete race

All set for season opener.

Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet

Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet

Chris Owens

Marco Andretti, No . 25 Snapple Honda

Finished a career best of fifth in the 2013 IndyCar Series points standings
Secured a podium finish on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2013

Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Owens

"I won the (Indy) Lights race (in St. Pete) , been upside down there, and last year was on the podium there, so definitely some ups and downs at that track. It really helps to start the year off strong and get some points out of the gate. It was a strong showing for Andretti Autosport in 2013 with a first and third-place finish; we are looking to do it again. It really helps propel you into the rest of the season, and I think we are coming ready."

James Hinchcliffe, No. 27 United Fiber & Data Honda

Recorded first career victory at the 2013 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Enters the 2014 Verizon IndyCar season with 50 career starts

"I strongly believe that whatever you did in 2013 doesn't make a damn bit of difference in 2014, so we're excited to go back to St. Pete just because it's such a cool event. Obviously I have some great memories there form last year, but it doesn't put any extra pressure on anything - maybe a little extra attention at the beginning of the weekend. But like I said, it's always exciting to get back to that first race of the year, and fingers crossed, we can [win] it again."

Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 28 DHL Honda

Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Jones

Enters the 2014 Verizon IndyCar season with 11 career wins and 889 laps led
Recorded an 18th-place finish at the 2013 Grand Prix of St. Pete after experiencing mechanical issues

"I think we had a really strong year last year. We were strong at the places we needed to be and had a good run going until mid-season, and then we just had some issues come up that took us out of the championship fight. But it gave us good momentum, and we know we can operate at that level. We have an opportunity here to take advantage of working with Honda; we are working with four cars here at Andretti Autosport that could really leap forward with Honda."

On returning to the No. 28: "I really enjoyed and was honored to run the No. 1, and hope to have that opportunity again... but racing is a superstitious bunch and it's great to be back with No. 28 all yellow DHL car. Nothing but business."

Carlos Muñoz, No. 34 Cinsay Honda

2013 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year begins his first official rookie season of the Verizon IndyCar Series this weekend
Has three previous starts in IndyCar - only one on a temporary street course (Toronto, 2013)

"St. Pete is one of the tracks I like a lot. I've been really fast in the past (in an Indy Lights car), but I've never finished in the past two years I've raced there. My main goal is to finish the race, take all the experience, to learn a lot. I have a great team in the Cinsay/AndrettiTV.com guys, and last year James (Hinchcliffe) won, so I think we'll have a really great car to start off the weekend. I'm really happy to start the season, the first race. We'll take it step by step, session by session and we'll see how we end up at the end of the race."

Andretti Autosport

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