Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Danica Patrick signs multi-year deal to stay in IRL with restructured Andretti Autosport]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/danica-patrick-signs-multi-year-deal-to-stay-in-irl-with-restruc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/danica-patrick-signs-multi-year-deal-to-stay-in-irl-with-restruc/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/danica-patrick-signs-multi-year-deal-to-stay-in-irl-with-restruc/#commentsFiled under: ,



There are plenty of reasons why Danica Patrick stays in the news. If it's not her famous temper, photo shoots for Sports Illustrated or racy television commercials, it's her impressive results on the race track. She is, after all, the first woman to win an Indy race and, after finishing third at the Brickyard this year, the most successful woman to race the Indy 500. But lately the news has centered over the future of her racing career.

Rumors first began to pop up that Danica could move on up to Formula One, initially linked with Honda and then with USF1 before Bernie Ecclestone put his foot in his mouth. Again. Most recently, however, Danica's been tipped to switch to NASCAR. But with the latest announcement, those rumors have been quashed. Well, sorta.

Announced live today in Times Square on ABC's Good Morning America, Danica has signed a "multi-year" deal (tipped to be three years) to stay in the IndyCar Series with Michael Andretti's team. The four-car squad is restructuring this year, with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree splitting off the race promotion arm (responsible for the races in St Petersburg and Toronto), while Michael Andretti stays on to manage the team that drops the Andretti Green Racing moniker in favor of Andretti Autosport. GoDaddy.com has signed on to continue its sponsorship of Danica's No. 7 car. Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti are locked into long-term deals for two of the other cars, while the fourth car is expected to go to former Rookie of the Year and race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay.

The announcement of Danica's extended contract would seem to put an end to the NASCAR rumors for at least the next three years, but reports still suggest that the talented Miss Patrick could run a parallel schedule in the second-tier Nationwide Series while contesting the full IndyCar calendar as well. Busy beaver indeed.

[Source: Andretti Autosport]

Continue reading Danica Patrick signs multi-year deal to stay in IRL with restructured Andretti Autosport

Danica Patrick signs multi-year deal to stay in IRL with restructured Andretti Autosport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrettiandretti autosportandretti green racingAndrettiAutosportAndrettiGreenRacingdanicadanica patrickDanicaPatrickindycar seriesIndycarSeriesirlmichael andrettiMichaelAndrettipatrickMon, 30 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy to follow YouTube into USF1 sponsorship?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/09/best-buy-to-follow-youtube-into-usf1-sponsorship/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/09/best-buy-to-follow-youtube-into-usf1-sponsorship/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/09/best-buy-to-follow-youtube-into-usf1-sponsorship/#commentsFiled under:

Preparations are well underway for the debut of the new USF1 team, which is set to join the Formula One grid next season. The car's been designed, the manufacturing facility is in the process of ramping up for production, and the team has staffed up. But while the nascent squad focuses on building the chassis and infrastructure, speculation has been running rampant over who will sponsor the team and who will be driving its two cars.

Previous reports indicated that YouTube could be on board, and now the latest suggest that Best Buy, which currently sponsors Elliott Sadler's #19 Dodge Charger for the Richard Petty team in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series, could be in the mix as well. The rumors are fueled by an entry which Barry Judge, the electronics retail giant's chief marketing officer, posted on Twitter asking the public-at-tweet what they thought of the idea of Best Buy - currently is in the midst of a European expansion - linking up with the team.

Continue reading Best Buy to follow YouTube into USF1 sponsorship?

Best Buy to follow YouTube into USF1 sponsorship? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marco is set to become the third Andretti to get behind the wheel of an F1 car as he heads to the Jerez test track on Friday. The son of former McLaren driver Michael Andretti and grandson of the legendary F1 champ Mario Andretti, Marco has become a rising star in motorsports, named IRL rookie of the year.

Marco will test for Honda, whose engines power the Indy car he races. But that doesn't mean he'll be making the jump to F1 quite so quickly. He's contracted to Andretti Green Racing for the next two seasons, though somehow we can't imagine his dad holding him to it if Marco had a shot at moving up to the big leagues. But at 19, the youngest race winner in IRL history (short as it is), Marco's got plenty of time to dominate in Indy cars before switching to F1.

Still, just the idea of a third-generation Andretti coming anywhere near Formula One is an exciting notion. With Scott Speed just barely getting by in a back-marker team, F1 struggling to thrive with the US audience, and Honda competing with Toyota for the mantle of "most American" of Japanese carmakers, an exciting American driver behind the wheel of a Honda F1 car could be just what the doctor ordered.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Marco Andretti to test-drive in F1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrettif1hondajerezmarcotestMon, 11 Dec 2006 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Il Commendatore: Mario Andretti honored by Italy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/il-commendatore-mario-andretti-honored-by-italy/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/il-commendatore-mario-andretti-honored-by-italy/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/il-commendatore-mario-andretti-honored-by-italy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Accomplished race driver, living legend and patriarch of a veritable racing dynasty Mario Andretti is being honored by the Italian government with the title of Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana. The prestigious award will be presented on October 23 by Consul-General Antonio Bandini at the New York Columbus Citizens Foundation.

To say Mario is an accomplished driver is like saying the Pope is Catholic. Andretti has won the Formula 1 driver's world title, the Indy Car championship (four times), the USAC national dirt track championship, the Indy 500, the Daytona 500 and the 12 Hours of Sebring (three times), to name a few. To top that he's been named Driver of the Year spanning three decades, not to mention Driver of the Century.

His son Michael, head of Andretti-Green Racing, and grandson Michael Marco, IRL rookie of the year, will be there for the ceremony as well.

Word has it the Commendatore can't refuse a favor on this, the day of his decoration, so better get in line. Just kidding... felicitazioni, Mario!

[Source: Sports Car Market]

Il Commendatore: Mario Andretti honored by Italy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrettiawardcommendatorehonoritalianmarioThu, 19 Oct 2006 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[He's the real deal: Marco Andretti scores first big league win]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/hes-the-real-deal-marco-andretti-scores-first-big-league-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/hes-the-real-deal-marco-andretti-scores-first-big-league-win/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/29/hes-the-real-deal-marco-andretti-scores-first-big-league-win/#commentsFiled under:



In case you thought his nearly winning the Indy 500 was a fluke, on Sunday Marco Andretti became the youngest driver in U.S. history to win a major-league open wheel race when he captured the Infineon Indy Grand Prix in Sonoma, California. The 19 year-old son of Michael Andretti, and grandson of former world champion Mario Andretti, also locked up the IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year title in the process.

Marco beat Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti to the line by only 0.6 seconds, after gaining the lead on a brilliant out-of-sequence pit stop call by crew chief Kyle Moyer. The two AGR cars were 10 seconds clear of third place Vitor Meira (Panther Racing).

On the championship front, the IndyCar Series heads into its last race at Chicagoland Speedway with Helio Castroneves holding just a one-point lead over Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr.

[Source: Honda]

He's the real deal: Marco Andretti scores first big league win originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrettiindyindy racingindycarirlmarco andrettiTue, 29 Aug 2006 08:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Acura announces 2007 American Le Mans Series lineup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/acura-announces-2007-american-le-mans-series-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/acura-announces-2007-american-le-mans-series-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/acura-announces-2007-american-le-mans-series-lineup/#commentsFiled under: ,



Honda Performance Development is leveraging its involvement with the Indy Racing League to launch a three-team effort for the 2007 ALMS season. IndyCar veterans Fernandez Racing and Andretti Green Racing will join the Acura LMP2-class effort, along with Highcroft Racing.

Fernandez Racing will mount their HPD/Acura engines in Lola B05/40 chassis and focus on engine development with HPD, while Highcroft will run an Acura-Courage LC75 (shown above in generic Acura livery), working with HPD on chassis development, as Honda prepares to develop its own chassis for the 2008 season. Andretti Green, also running a Courage, brings sponsor XM Satellite Radio from their IRL effort, while Fernandez Racing will be sponsored by the Lowe's home improvement chain. All three teams will run Michelins. Highcroft Racing is the only one of the three teams currently running in the ALMS, competing in LMP1 with its Lola EX257-AER.

This will be another boost for the fast-growing ALMS, not least because of the inevitable rumors of a Mario/Michael/Marco three-generation Andretti driver matchup. However that storyline plays out, it's clear that Honda isn't fooling around with its ALMS effort.

[Source: Honda]

Acura announces 2007 American Le Mans Series lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been said that Mario Andretti and fast cars pair like fine wine and good food. Well, on Saturday, June 24, fans and oenophiles will have the chance to experience at least three out of four of those things, and by our reckoning, that ain't half bad.

Andretti's prowess on the racetrack is well-documented, but he's also the proprietor of a well-regarded winery in Napa, California, which is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary on June 24.

The festivities will include wine tasting (natch), food, live music, and of course, Mario will be in the house.  There is an admission charge, but it's open to the public, so check out www.andrettiwinery.com if you're in the area.

Who knows? Perhaps Mario will break out some vintage iron to mark the occasion.

[Source: Andretti Winery]

Andretti in vintage form as he celebrates 10 years of winemaking originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrettigrape growingGrapeGrowinggrapesMario AndrettiMarioAndrettinapa valleyNapaValleyOenophileSideways MovieSidewaysMovievintageWine makingwine tastingWineMakingwineryWineTastingTue, 13 Jun 2006 16:02:00 EST