Andretti and Petty combine for Indy 500 dream team
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Two of the most biggest names in American motorsport -- Andretti and Petty -- will join forces to enter a car in this year's Indianapolis 500, the two teams said on Wednesday.
Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti and NASCAR great Richard Petty will combine behind a car in the May 30 race at the famed Brickyard that will be driven by John Andretti, cousin of team boss Michael.
For two races, including a warm-up in Kansas, John Andretti will join the Andretti Autosport stable of drivers alongside cousin Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
"I've known Richard for a long, long time," Michael Andretti said on a conference call to announce the partnership.
"Richard is a legend and has millions of fans worldwide and hopefully a few of them are going to become Andretti Autosport fans after the month of May."
While John Andretti has spent the latter part of his career racing stock cars, the 47-year-old driver is no stranger to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway having taken part in the 500-mile race 10 times and placing in the top 10 on four occasions.
Andretti's car will carry the number 43 and the florescent red and blue livery that "The King" Petty made famous winning seven NASCAR Cup titles and a record seven Daytona 500s.
"It would be difficult to script a scenario any better than the one we have here," said John Andretti. "I feel like this is my best shot and I'm going to take full advantage of it.
Andretti Autosport has won the Indianapolis 500 twice, in 2005 and 2007.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; editing by Jon Bramley)
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