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By JENNA FRYER, AP Sports Writer
February 6, 2003
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- John Andretti has been given permission from his NASCAR bosses to run in the Indianapolis 500 this season, just in time to race against his cousin one last time.
Former CART champion Michael Andretti said last week he'll retire after the Indy 500 in May to concentrate on being a car owner.
John Andretti, who spends his time racing stock cars for Petty Enterprises in NASCAR, said Thursday he wants to be in the field when his cousin takes his final green flag in the ``Greatest Spectacle in Racing.''
``I want to be in that race against Michael,'' John said. ``The thing we've always said about the Andrettis is, 'He who gets hurt last, wins.' Well, Michael always lost because he always got hurt, and I want to give him one last chance.''
John Andretti, who made his Indy 500 debut as a CART driver in 1988, has not raced in the Indy 500 since 1994 when he became the first driver to run in the open-wheel event and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon have both attempted ``double duty'' since and John Andretti wanted to try it again last season.
But Kyle Petty wouldn't let him, insisting that John Andretti focus on his NASCAR obligations. It was thought to be a sticking point in negotiations for a contract extension that dragged on through the season and wasn't settled until December.
Now Petty has signed off on John Andretti's participation, and if it means his family will have to kick in some cash to get John into the race this year to run against Michael, they'll do it.
``John has the green light to do whatever he wants to do right now,'' Petty said. ``When he came to us last year, there was only about two or three months for him to put a deal together and we were afraid he couldn't get it done in time and it would distract from what we were trying to do. So I said, `No' and I was firm on it.
``Now we want to help him make it happen.''
John Andretti said it was important for him to keep the family name in the race, especially after several years of absence when Michael choose to sit out during CART's boycott of the IRL-sanctioned race.
But Michael ended the boycott last season in a bid to win his first Indy title before climbing out of his race car for good.
Michael, the 40-year-old son of former Indy winner Mario Andretti, leads all active drivers in laps led at Indy but has never won the race.
``If we're both in there and it's his last Indy 500, I would watch because it could get ugly,'' John said. ``But who knows if it's really his last? When he sees May coming up on the calendar each year and he owns the car, I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs back into it.''
I think it is pretty cool to see the Pettys let John Andretti race in the Indy 500 this year. It is going to be a very special race having two Andrettis in the race and the Indy 500 also being Michael Andretti's last race.
By JENNA FRYER, AP Sports Writer
February 6, 2003
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- John Andretti has been given permission from his NASCAR bosses to run in the Indianapolis 500 this season, just in time to race against his cousin one last time.
Former CART champion Michael Andretti said last week he'll retire after the Indy 500 in May to concentrate on being a car owner.
John Andretti, who spends his time racing stock cars for Petty Enterprises in NASCAR, said Thursday he wants to be in the field when his cousin takes his final green flag in the ``Greatest Spectacle in Racing.''
``I want to be in that race against Michael,'' John said. ``The thing we've always said about the Andrettis is, 'He who gets hurt last, wins.' Well, Michael always lost because he always got hurt, and I want to give him one last chance.''
John Andretti, who made his Indy 500 debut as a CART driver in 1988, has not raced in the Indy 500 since 1994 when he became the first driver to run in the open-wheel event and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon have both attempted ``double duty'' since and John Andretti wanted to try it again last season.
But Kyle Petty wouldn't let him, insisting that John Andretti focus on his NASCAR obligations. It was thought to be a sticking point in negotiations for a contract extension that dragged on through the season and wasn't settled until December.
Now Petty has signed off on John Andretti's participation, and if it means his family will have to kick in some cash to get John into the race this year to run against Michael, they'll do it.
``John has the green light to do whatever he wants to do right now,'' Petty said. ``When he came to us last year, there was only about two or three months for him to put a deal together and we were afraid he couldn't get it done in time and it would distract from what we were trying to do. So I said, `No' and I was firm on it.
``Now we want to help him make it happen.''
John Andretti said it was important for him to keep the family name in the race, especially after several years of absence when Michael choose to sit out during CART's boycott of the IRL-sanctioned race.
But Michael ended the boycott last season in a bid to win his first Indy title before climbing out of his race car for good.
Michael, the 40-year-old son of former Indy winner Mario Andretti, leads all active drivers in laps led at Indy but has never won the race.
``If we're both in there and it's his last Indy 500, I would watch because it could get ugly,'' John said. ``But who knows if it's really his last? When he sees May coming up on the calendar each year and he owns the car, I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs back into it.''
I think it is pretty cool to see the Pettys let John Andretti race in the Indy 500 this year. It is going to be a very special race having two Andrettis in the race and the Indy 500 also being Michael Andretti's last race.
