When Michael gets on the track, he goes like a BALL OF FIRE.... I really love his driving style. He has that "refuse to lose" attitude. The following data on Michael was provided by Speednet.

"This was the first time I ran with the lower downforce and 40" of boost on a road course. I could definitely feel the difference. The new rules will definitely slow the cars down. It's (the reduced horsepower) all relative. You just have to push the car to the limit sooner. What it does is it brings out more of the weaknesses of the car. That's the key. The horsepower definitely helps but you have to have a well-handling car first." Nov. 21, 1996 after three-day test for Goodyear on the Sebring (Fla.) road course

Michael Andretti first raced go-karts in early 1970s. He qualified for SCCA amateur and national license in 1980. That same year he competited in Formula Ford at Watkins Glen.

By 1981 Andretti captured Northeast division Formula Ford title with six victories. In 1982 he was the Super Vee champion, winning six races, and named SCCA Pro Rookie of the Year.

In 1983 he drove with his father, Mario Andretti, for first time, in the 24 Hours of LeMans. Andretti's Indy car debut came at Las Vegas, taking 19th after gearbox failure. He started the final three events of the season, taking ninth at Phoenix in the finale.

Andretti finished seventh in the 1984 PPG Cup standings, finishing in the Top 10 nine times, scoring five third-place finishes, qualifying fourth in his first Indy 500, finished fifth at Indy and earned Indy Co-Rookie of the Year with Roberto Guerrero.

Not only his first, but first three career Indy Car victories came in 1985, finishing second in driving standings. The first win was at Long Beach, first pole at Milwaukee. He lost by 0.07 seconds to his father on Father's Day in Portland, in at that time the closest victory margin in PPG Cup history.

Andretti repeated as PPG Cup runner-up to Bobby Rahal in 1987 despite winning series-high four races and two poles. He also earned his first 500-mile victory at Michigan and won the inaugural hometown event at Nazareth. He achieved nine top-five finishes in sixth season with Kraco, In 1988, the final season with Kraco, he produced seven top-five finishes and victory at the second Marlboro Challenge at Miami.

In November the first father-son combo in Indy Car racing became a reality at Newman/Haas for 1989. The following year Michael became the first driver since his father, in August 1987, to lead every lap of a race. The two also finished one-two at Mid-Ohio. The Andretti dynasty continued in 1991 when Michael topped Indy Car racing's first ever all-Andretti victory podium ahead of cousin, John, and his father at Milwaukee. Michael also won a championship in the same year as younger brother Jeff won Rookie of the Year title.

Michael left IndyCar in 1993 to join McLaren's Formula One program, teamed with Ayrton Senna. He scored seven points in 13 Formula One starts and had a third-place finish in the Italian Grand Prix.

His return to Indy Car racing at came in 1994 when he drove for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. He won in Australia, his first race back in an Indy car following his Formula One stint.

Indy Car Victories: 1986 Long Beach, Milwaukee, Phoenix; 1987 Milwaukee, Michigan 500, Nazareth, Miami; 1989 Toronto, Michigan 500; 1990 Detroit, Portland, Meadowlands, Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake; 1991 Milwaukee, Portland, Cleveland, Toronto, Vancouver, Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca; 1992 Portland, Milwaukee, Toronto, Vancouver, Laguna Seca; 1994 Australia, Toronto; 1995 Toronto

PPG points (standing): 1983 - 4 (26th); 1984 - 102 (7th); 1985 - 53 (9th); 1986 - 171 (2nd); 1987 - 158 (2nd); 1991 - 234 (1st); 1992 - 192 (2nd); 1994 - 118 (4th); 1995 - 123 (4th)

Source: Speednet

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