Al Unser III, Al Unser Jr., Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Adam Andretti, Aldo Andretti, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, Indy Pro Series
Steve Snoody/IMS Photo
UNSER INFO www.indycar.com@
ANDRETTI INFO www.indycar.com@
good races and bad races but, with the last
name being Unser, for some reason you’re
always supposed to have good races.
“I watch them do it to [third-generation
driver] Marco [Andretti] all the time. It’s his
second year in the IndyCar Series, and they
kind of ripped him a bit this last year. He
had a great year his first year, his rookie
year; but you’re going to have down times,
you’re going to have tough times. That’s just
the way any driver is going to have it, but with
the extra attention that you get, it just shows
more when you’re having a down time.”
Says Andretti: “My cousin Michael said it
years ago, ‘When you’re an Andretti and you win
a race, it’s expected of you. The fans and
owners, the whole group looks at you, ‘Well you
should’ve done that, you’re an Andretti.’ But
when you don’t win the race, they wonder why.
‘He’s an Andretti, he should be winning.’ That’s
probably the biggest challenge; you’re not given
a learning curve when you
have this name. People
automatically think that you
should be going out there and
performing right off the bat.”
Fortunately for Andretti
and Unser, both have found sponsors not only
willing to back them in full-season efforts in
the Indy Pro Series in 2008 but also with an
eye on the future. Andretti has spent the past
several months since his series debut at
Chicagoland in September looking for the right
team to partner with.
“I’m looking forward to next year in the Indy
Pro Series so much because we’re going to go
out there, we’re going to get a full season
under our belt, and we’re going to show, if
His father Aldo’s
racing career was
cut short by an
accident, but thanks
to uncle Mario and
cousin Michael,
Adam Andretti has a
lot of expectations
on him because of
his last name
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there are any naysayers out there, that this is
what we’ve been capable of the whole time,”
Andretti says. “I think this is our opportunity.
I’m telling people the whole time, throughout
this, that this is my shot. I’m at an age right
now where this is probably my last shot to get
to the IndyCar Series, to the Indianapolis 500
and the whole goal where I want to be.
“This is taken very seriously, and this is more
than just a one-year plan here. We’re looking
hard at the future. We have great backing. I can’t
say enough about the sponsors that we have –
Brunton Vineyards, Rev It Up Racing, Brimstone
Dynasty, Terra Nova Industries. These are great
individuals who have committed to next year.”
Unser, who made four starts with Playa Del
Racing in 2007, signed a deal to return to the
team in 2008 during the Chicago race weekend.
“I’m extremely excited to be connected with
Playa Del Racing and Ethos Fuel Reformulator
for this next year,” Unser says. “They’ve brought
me on. I’m one of a few
drivers in the Indy Pro Series
who didn’t have to bring
money, and that’s so huge
for a driver to have a team
that has faith in you.
“I moved to Las Vegas in June and got my
deal wrapped up, made the announcement in
Chicago. Since then, I’ve been training in the
gym. It’s an incentive to wake up every
morning and go, ‘OK, I’m going to be in a race
car soon. I need to go work on my shoulders or
go work on my neck or something like that.’
“I’m to the point now, I’m 25 years old, it’s
go or no-go for me basically. Either make it
happen, or I’ve got to try something else.
We’re going to make it happen.”
The son also rises
IndyCarSeries 2007 winterspecial 39
Shawn Payne/IMS Photo
Chris Jones/IMS Photo
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