CART: Michael Andretti has added pressure at Road America
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 16, 2001Indianapolis, IN-This weekend there will be added pressure on Team Motorola since Motorola sponsors the race. "There will be a little more pressure this weekend but that's good," Andretti said. "Hopefully we can go to Road America and do a good job and m ake Motorola proud of Team Motorola racing."
Team Motorola arrives in Elkhart Lake in fifth place in the CART FedEx Championship race and feels the pressure to earn points at the Motorola 220. "Three DNF's (did not finish) in a row is not what we're about at Team Motorola," said general manager Kim Green. "We're about finishing races and scoring points. The pressure is on for us to get back to finishing races and scoring points and staying solidly in the championship hunt." The team scored its first victory in Toronto and then has had DNF's at Mic higan, Chicago and Mid-Ohio. Despite the lack of points paying finishes in the last three events, Team Motorola has managed to hang on to a top five position in the championship based on earlier finishes including a second in Milwaukee and the victory in Toronto. "It is certainly frustrating to not finish races," Andretti said. "But you have to stay focused and go out at the Motorola 220 and expect to win and expect to earn points and expect to stay in the championship fight."
Road America is an ideal place for a Team Motorola success story. Kim Green explained why this weekend would be the time for such a tale. "Michael has qualified well at Road America and it is probably one of his favorite tracks to drive, so the job is fo r Team Motorola to give him a good car this weekend and let Michael go to work. With Motorola being the race sponsor it would be very fitting for us to capture our second victory at the Motorola 220." In Andretti's 16 years at Road America he has definit ely seen success, winning the event three times (1990, 1991 and 1996) and finishing second three times (1985, 1986 and 1999). Andretti has also qualified well at Road America, qualifying in the top ten for 15 of 16 races. "Road America is probably one of the most beautiful tracks in the world," Andretti said. "It's great racing too. There's a lot of room to pass and the track is a lot of fun to drive. I'm looking forward to this weekend and I'm hoping that we have put our bad luck behind us."
Team Motorola and Andretti begin practice on Friday, August 17 at 9:30 a.m. The Motorola 220 will be shown live on ESPN on Sunday, August 19 beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Text provided by Jana Griffith
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