Trading Paint

John Andretti and Richard Petty Courtesy Breaking Limits

Trading Paint: Tell us about the atmosphere at the Indy 500. What is it like racing there?

John Andretti: There is nothing like Indianapolis. It’s the biggest race in the world. It’s my heritage, really. Looking at my father, my uncle, cousins and now second cousin (Marco), this is huge for us. The atmosphere for me is always big. It’s a great privilege to race at Indianapolis. This place has so much history. I went to high school just miles down the road and growing up you always looked forward to the month of May. You’d try to climb out windows to get to the track while in class. Everything that is a part of the race is cool. The parade, driver’s meeting before the race, the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana. This is a special event.

TP: How do you adjust from going to NASCAR to IndyCar?

JA: I actually adjusted to stock cars. I had raced in CART and won races, but saw that NASCAR was so competitive. I went and raced in NASCAR and the cars are totally different. You have a steering wheel and four tires, but everything else is just so different. It’s not too difficult. I came back after 13 years to Indy two years ago. I was a little nervous then. The cars had changed on the Indy side. I just didn’t know what to expect, but after a day or so it wasn’t that bad. Michael (cousin Michael Andretti) came over and said that I couldn’t run the NASCAR line here, but after a day I was used to a lot of it. I raced a few more IndyCar events last year and it really gave me better knowledge. I’m used to the stock cars and the new car. It’s always an adjustment, but they are both still racecars. You race them as hard as you can.

TP: You've done both in the same day, what was that experience like?

JA: Yeah, it was a long day, but I think it’s something a lot of guys want to have the opportunity to do again. Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon started doing it after I did it. It’s a long day and now it’s impossible to do because of the timing. You just need to prepare yourself. Both are long races and then you have to take helicopters and planes. It was a big thing to do, but it was a lot of fun too.

TP: You are driving for Richard Petty, talk a little about Petty and what he means to motorsports.

JA: Richard is a ‘racer’ and by that I mean he understands how it is. He knows what it’s like to be out there on the track. I’ve raced for some great racers in the past. I drove for Cale Yarborough and Richard Petty. These guys get it. That makes it easier. With ‘The King,’ I think we’re like family. We’ve always gotten along so well. I wanted to come back this year to Indy with Richard, but only do it the right way. We have a cool car and the number ‘43’ on the car. We have a great sponsor with Window World. You know, with The King you have to do everything really big. He’s such an icon within our sport. The cowboy hat, boots, sunglasses. He’s “The King” and that’s what you associate NASCAR with. But, he’s a great person too. He’s humble and does so many good things.

TP: Let's talk about another racing legend, your Uncle, Mario, what did he mean to you as a young driver and what does he mean to the sport.

JA: What Richard is to stock car racing, Mario is to open wheel racing. His accomplishments here in America and in Formula One are tremendous. He’s brought some much attention to our sport and to everything we do. That’s great for us. Our whole family are racers and my dad and Mario (they are twins) are the leaders. They really gave us a solid footing to start our racing paths.

TP: What is your favorite Indy 500 moment?

JA: I really can’t pick just one thing. Indy is special every time you come here. It’s just that kinda place. I love my childhood memories of coming here in May. Watching my family and being a part of it. Seeing the track grow and the history around it. It’s all been very special.

TP: Last question, if you had to choose, on the same day, run the Daytona 500 or Indy 500. Which one are you picking?

JA: It’s always going to be the Indy 500. That’s the biggest race of them all. Daytona 500 is big, but my heart belongs to the Indianapolis 500. -- CASSIDY

The exceedingly pleasant Andretti also spoke with Newsday's Kidsday reporters earlier this week in New York. Here's a brief video clip: