John Andretti News - January 2009

EGR and Front Row collaborate for 500

Andretti to drive No. 34 Chevrolet at Daytona

January 30, 2009

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's fourth car in the Daytona 500 -- the No. 34 Chevrolet -- will actually involve a partnership with owner Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports and one of its drivers, John Andretti.

An EGR spokesman said the collaborative effort would be only for the Daytona 500, and that the car would be a guaranteed starter via points accrued in 2008 by one of EGR's cars that won't compete this season.

Those include the No. 01 and No. 15 that were fielded last season by Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the No. 41 fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing.

The No. 41 has been registered to Jeremy Mayfield in 2009 for his Mayfield Racing Enterprises, but the points didn't go with the number, according to a Mayfield spokesperson.

EGR this season will field full-season efforts for the Nos. 1, 8 and 42 Chevrolets. During Speedweeks, EGR's Steve Lane will be the crew chief for the No. 34 and EGR crewmen will be among those tending the car.

During the past five seasons, Jenkins and his son, Brad have fielded between one and three car numbers each year in the Cup Series, including the Nos. 34 and 37 cars the past two seasons. In that time the Front Row teams have made 52 races, but have never been guaranteed starters, except in the case of a rainout.

Andretti made three of the first 10 races he attempted with Front Row in 2008, including the Daytona 500. He had a best finish of 35th at Fontana in February. After the Richmond event in May he raced the rest of the season in the IRL, including the Indianapolis 500.

Full Story on NASCAR.com

Andretti to drive No. 34 for Earnhardt Ganassi

January 30, 2009

DAVIDSON, N.C. - John Andretti will drive the No. 34 Window World Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in the Daytona 500 on February 15th.

Andretti will have a technical alliance that partners Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR for Daytona and beyond, Ganassi sources confirmed on Friday. Window World, based in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is a residential replacement window company with more than 200 distributors nationwide.

"The Daytona 500 is always exciting but to go down there with the bullet I have to drive and be surrounded by so many friends, that's really exciting," Andretti said. "I know what to expect from the engines having worked with Richie Gilmore (COO of Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology) at DEI and (engine builder) Rick Mann at Petty Enterprises. I know it's last minute, but it's not so bad. They've been preparing for this for a long time."

"I feel like I have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500."

Full story on FoxSports.com

Andretti would drive fourth EGR car

January 29, 2009

By David Newton
ESPN.com

CONCORD, N.C. -- John Andretti is in the process of finalizing a deal that will put him in the fourth car for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at next month's Daytona 500.

"We've got a few more things to go through," Andretti said on Thursday. "I don't see any big hurdles."

Team president Steve Lauletta recently said he hopes to have sponsorship to run a fourth car beyond Daytona. Andretti is open to driving more races, but has goals beyond the Sprint Cup series.

"I want to do the Indianapolis 500," he said. "If it works out, it works out. If it doesn't, life doesn't stop. I just want to go down to Daytona and have a good time."

Andretti made three of 10 Cup races he entered last season in the No. 34 owned by Bob Jenkins. He qualified 22nd for the Daytona 500 and finished 40th.

In 358 Cup races Andretti has two wins, the last coming at Phoenix in 1999 for Petty Enterprises. He drove in 16 races during 2003 and 2004 for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Full Story on ESPN.com

Sources: Andretti to drive for Earnhardt Ganassi

DAVIDSON, N.C. - John Andretti is expected to drive the fourth Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet at Daytona.

A technical alliance is in the works that would partner Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR for Daytona and beyond, sources told FOXSports.com. The car's number and sponsor should be announced later this week.

Before the Rolex 24, EGR President Steve Lauletta said, "our goal with the fourth car is to run it deeper into the season." Lauletta added that he was searching for ways to retain "key and good employees," particularly given that the combined organization has released more than 200 people since the first layoff last summer.

Andretti, 45, who won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in 1997 driving for Cale Yarborough, has raced for Jenkins the last two seasons but would not comment on the current negotiations. Andretti admitted that after four seasons, Jenkins has wanted to expand his involvement in racing but wasn't entirely sure to what extent.

"We're good friends and we work together on a lot of things," Andretti said of Jenkins. "(The future of the team) all depends on what Bob can do because sponsorship right now is limited."

Andretti has raced under the Earnhardt banner in the past. In 2004, he ran five races in the No. 1 Chevrolet and an additional four races for A.J. Foyt.

In 2009, Andrett's plans will not be limited to NASCAR.

"The Indy 500 is not going to go off my radar screen," Andretti said. "I can't imagine not doing the Indy 500. I've had so much fun at Indy the last two years."

Full story on FoxSports.com