April 23, 2003
Getting A Hand From The Old Man
With two drivers injured and perhaps unable to drive in next month's Indy 500, race team owner Michael Andretti is short one driver. What's the solution? Why not ask Dad to help out?
Mario Andretti, arguably the most versatile racer of all time, will step out of the past and into Tony Kanaan's Dallara/Honda for testing Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Kanaan, who suffered a broken left arm earlier this month in Japan, might not be able to practice May 4 or later qualify for the Indy 500. Dr. Terry Trammell did say Tuesday that Kanaan should be well enough to run the race May 25.
The Andrettis already have agreed to Mario qualifying the car for Kanaan if Kanaan is unable to. It is unlikely -- even if Mario qualifies and the 28-year-old Brazilian can't run the race -- that Mario would run at Indy.
"Michael asked me if I wanted to give it a try and I said sure, so tomorrow we're going to go out and see if I can become part of this equation," the 63-year-old legend said Tuesday after undergoing a physical and receiving his Indy Racing League license.
"I think the only reason he asked me was because he knew I'd do it for free, but I'm looking forward to seeing what it feels like."
For the most part, I usually wish that any athlete who has an injury enjoys a speedy recovery. But in this case, perhaps Kanaan might take a little longer to recover. . .
UPDATE: Andretti crashed during his practice session today. Thankfully, he walked away without any injuries.
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