Question: You’ve been busy this off‑season. I know everybody stays busy in the off‑season, but you’ve had the opportunity to do at least probably more racing than anyone else has, competing in A1GP. How much does that help as you come back into the season and especially the fact that we start the season with two street events?
MARCO ANDRETTI: I think it’s been huge, because the main thing that I always stress is that it’s not just testing race cars, it keeps you race savvy, as well, because I think a small mistake is definitely magnified in a race, so it keeps you really on your toes, and it’s a form of training for what we’re doing. These cars are pretty physical, and the road courses, as well. It’s definitely the most physical of all.
Also the competition over there is pretty tough, too. We’re just now getting the hang of this car, unfortunately just towards the end of that season. But we’ve got a couple more chances at it, I think. Hopefully we have a couple more races over there. I have Portugal in between St. Pete and Long Beach, so I’m definitely going to carry on being pretty busy, but it’s definitely the way to go. If you’re going to stay busy, you might as well stay in a car.
Question: Talk about the IndyCar Series in 2009. Last year you certainly had some great moments like a second-place finish at Indy, a few finishes that I’m sure you wish could have been better. Looking ahead, what are your goals and expectations for 2009?
MARCO ANDRETTI: I definitely echo Tony. It hasn’t changed since I’ve stepped in, as well. Indy, it’s the biggest race in the world. Indianapolis, as a team we’ve been super competitive there every year, and then the championship, I definitely think we’re going to have a shot. I think the word for me this year is definitely consistency because we’ve led at a lot of different types of racetracks in different years but were unable to capitalize. So this year is going to be ‑‑ I’m going to be looking to capitalize at a lot of races. I don’t see a weak spot in the championship for our whole team, really, so I think that definitely ‑‑ I can’t wait to get going.
Question: And Marco, you talked about that consistency is something you’re looking for this year. Could you analyze in a little more detail the parts of your game that have to improve this year to move up the notches?
MARCO ANDRETTI:I think across the board we’re going to be strong on the 26 side because you need it from everybody. When I talk consistency I mean the whole team, but also in my driving, because there’s been ‑‑ just my whole part, my whole role. I play a big role in trying to make good race cars because that’s what lets us do the job.
In the past, I’ve had cars that were just absolutely diabolical and then cars that could win the races, and we were unable to capitalize. So we need to capitalize on days that we have the car to win the race, and on days that we don’t, it’s going to be the toughest, but that’s going to be where I think you make the difference. When the car is not working, that’s where it’s more into my hands in the race where you just need to bring it home as best the car can do.
Question: Can you talk a little bit about Peter Gibbons? He was with your dad and he’s like an icon, and how you get along with him and how that will work out?
MARCO ANDRETTI: I’ve definitely been fortunate enough to kind of get a little bit of a head start in working with him in the A1 stuff. Mechanically the cars are pretty different, but he stepped in late in the season and just kind of got the hang of it straightaway and got me pretty good race cars over there already. And then in the little bit of IndyCar testing we’ve done so far, it’s been almost as good as it could have been.
I love the confidence in him, and does the whole team this year. I’m lucky enough to have a great assistant engineer, and I think the three of us work great together in the room. And then we have Kyle (Moyer) and we have the best mechanics in the business, as well. So I’m looking forward to it from all aspects this year
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