Andretti to Start 17th in A1GP Sprint Race in New Zealand

Qualifies Eighth for the Feature

TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND (Jan. 23, 2008) - A1 Team USA driver Marco Andretti rebounded to grab the eighth starting position for tomorrow's A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Feature race after qualifying 17th for the Sprint.

Andretti also qualified eighth for the Feature at the last A1GP event in Sepang, Malaysia, where he went on to record a podium finish.

Ireland, which entered this weekend's races as the points leader, swept the pole positions for both Taupo events.

Tomorrow's Sprint race begins at 5 p.m. (EST) with the Feature race starting at 9 p.m. (EST).

TAUPO FEATURE RACE QUALIFYING RESULTS: A1GP RESULTS

Marco Andretti, Andretti Green A1, A1 Team USA: "I'm pretty disappointed with qualifying especially after being as quick as we were in the final practice. But, we can't do anything about it now. We've got to move on and get ready for tomorrow. "It's a pretty tight circuit and it's pretty dusty out there, so it doesn't take much to get off line. We just have to stay clean and consistent, take advantage of anybody that goes off tomorrow and get what we can get."