Andretti Autosport returns to Fontana
Ryan Hunter-Reay will return to Auto Club Speedway this weekend where he clinched the 2012 IndyCar title -- his first career championship -- one year ago
Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport Chevrolet
John Cote
Marco Andretti, No. 25 Dr Pepper Chevrolet: Marco Andretti returns to Fontana, Calif. this weekend for his second career start on the 2-mile, low-banked oval. Andretti started the 2012 MAVTV 500 from the pole position and contended for the win before being set back by mechanical issues and finishing eighth.
Over his eight-year career in IndyCar racing, so far, 124 of Andretti's total 904 laps led have occurred during 500-mile races. T he Nazareth, Penn. native has recorded 256 laps led this season."We have been dominant in the 500-mile races and have led a lot of laps, but Fontana is about leading the right lap, and that's what we need to do. I'd really like to end the season with a 'W' for the Dr Pepper team. Auto Club Speedway is a tricky place to get right with the seams, but will be rewarding if we do."
Did You Know: With 14 top-10 finishes so far this season, Marco has recorded a new career best beating his previous 11 top-10 finishes in 2009.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 1 DHL Chevrolet: Ranked sixth in the points standings, Ryan Hunter-Reay will return to Auto Club Speedway this weekend where he clinched the 2012 IndyCar title -- his first career championship -- one year ago. With 150 career starts under his belt, Hunter-Reay has led for a total of 844 laps during his career - 252 so far this season resulting in two victories and eight top-10 finishes.
"As a team we have some great memories of what we accomplished at this race track. This time last year we fought through adversity all weekend long to claim the overall championship by just a few points... what a comeback. We learned a heck of a lot about what we need to do different with our setup at this track, and following a successful test just a couple weeks ago, we're optimistic headed into the final race.
For one reason or another, things just haven't gone our way this year despite recording three poles and two wins. We may not have the championship on the line Saturday night, but we're really hungry for that third win this season. I think we're ready."
Did You Know: The 2013 ESPY winner is spending Wednesday meeting DHL employees at their Tempe, Arizona location, just one of the stops RHR has made this year getting to know more about the DHL family.
James Hinchcliffe, No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet: Fan favorite James Hinchcliffe will make his 50th career start this weekend at the MAVTV 500 in Southern California. The Canadian, who has recorded three victories this season, is coming off a strong podium finish at the last round of competition in Houston. Hinchcliffe is hoping to capture his fourth season victory this weekend.
"This is one of the toughest tracks we race on all year! The low downforce configuration and the seams wreak havoc for us. It's so easy to be caught off guard, and so 500 miles there feels like 1000 anywhere else! That said, the team had a strong test there a few weeks ago, and hopefully that translates into a good package on the GoDaddy car for the race weekend. It would be great to end the year with a podium and head into the off-season with some momentum."
Did You Know: To help raise awareness and funding for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Hinch and GoDaddy have teamed up create a GoDaddy PINK clothing line. Fans and supporters can get in on the cause by purchasing their officially licensed GoDaddy PINK merchandise at http://www.lids.com/IndyCar/James-Hinchcliffe.
E.J. Viso, No. 5 Team Venezuela PDVSA CITGO Chevrolet: Finishing the season with his 101st start at this weekend's MAVTV 500, E.J. Viso is still on the prowl for his first IndyCar victory. Thus far accruing two top five and seven top-10 finishes, along with 15 laps led, the Venezuelan's 2013 season has been his best to date.
"Excited to finally head to Fontana which has always been a controversial place. Last year was a very difficult race with a lot of bumps in the track, a lot of changes in the height and seams in the lanes which makes the stability of the car more difficult. It's also a place that is normally pretty hot, so with all these factors together, it's going to be a tough weekend. But, we, once again, have faith in the research and development we've done as a team."
Andretti Autosport
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