John Andretti: from IndyCar to NASCAR

03/01/96

The Associated Press published a story about John Andretti and the move he made two years ago when he left the high falutin' world of IndyCar racing to buzz around tracks in stock cars.

Andretti grew up near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, with an uncle like Mario and a cousin like Michael, everyone thought IndyCar fuel ran through his veins. When he announced that he was going to race stock cars, Andretti says that everyone told him he was crazy and said he wouldn't fit in.

For his part, Andretti says he left the black-tie affair and cocktail party world of IndyCar racing for the stock cars because he wanted racing to be fun again.

Andretti certainly seems at home in the NASCAR world: last season he drove his Kranefuss-Hass Ford Thunderbird to five top-10 finishes and a pole position start at the Southern 500 at the Darlington International Raceway.

Although Andretti says he misses the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he says he's glad he doesn't have to deal with the fallout from this year's IRL-CART feud. Besides, he's got bigger things to occupy his mind. This year has run hot and cold for Andretti so far. He was out in front of the field for the first half of the Daytona 500, but then suffered engine troubles. The engine problems followed him to Rockingham, where they persisted.

Still, Andretti is confident. He is looking forward to the TranSouth 400 near the end of next month at Darlington. He likes the Darlington track and reckons that the race there will be a good yardstick by which to judge his progress.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel