Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti ( born October 5, 1962 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ) is a retired American automobile racing driver. He is the son of the Italian-American race car driver Mario Andretti and himself the father of three children ( including the racer Marco Andretti ).
Career
Michael Andretti began his career in 1980 in Formula Ford, in which he won the championship in 1981. This he repeated in 1982 in the Super Vee. In 1983 he took the first time, along with his father, the 24-hour race at Le Mans in part and finished this third. In the same year he made his debut in the IndyCar World Series, in 1986 he was able to post the first victories for itself. In 1987, he won his first 500 - mile race at Michigan. In 1991 he succeeded to finish the season as champion, the same year he signed a contract with McLaren test driver. With Ayrton Senna as a teammate he drove 1993 McLaren first and last time in Formula 1 Except for a third place in the Grand Prix of Italy, but 7 points in the Drivers' Championship he could not achieve any success there and was replaced by Mika Häkkinen. So he returned a year later, in 1994, back in the Champ Car back. In 2003 he ended his racing career with a total of 42 victories. However, Andretti started twice, in 2006 and 2007, at the Indianapolis 500; In 2006 he was third behind while his son Marco. Most races he drove for the team of Paul Newman ( Newman / Haas Racing).
Team owner
In 2003, Andretti bought into the " Green Team ", which took from then on as " Andretti Green Racing " in the Indy Racing League. With the drivers Bryan Herta (2003-2006), Dan Wheldon (2003-2005), Dario Franchitti (2002-2007) and Tony Kanaan (2003 -), the team could win more races and set with Canaan in 2004, with Wheldon 2005 Franchitti and the 2007 series champion. Since 2006, his son Marco Andretti driving for the team. For the year 2007 was also obliged the first woman with Danica Patrick, the lead kilometers may have at the Indianapolis 500.