Andretti International’s new look takes form

What does Andretti International seem like after Michael Andretti took a step again?

It is a query many have contemplated for the reason that group proprietor stepped down as Chairman and CEO in September, handing the reins off to Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss. Andretti stays a strategic advisor to the group he co-founded in 2002.

The notion was that it was the final key to unlock the System 1 door for the Andretti-Cadillac effort, which occurred in late November as Liberty Media accredited Normal Motors because the eleventh group for 2026. GM, underneath its Cadillac banner, will begin as a buyer group earlier than making its personal engines by the tip of the last decade, utilizing the prevailing Andretti International mission in Silverstone because the pillar.

Whereas the Cadillac F1 program continues to take form, there’s additionally a deal with Andretti’s IndyCar department because the 2025 season is a few 46 days away.

Regardless of all the adjustments inside Andretti International, Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Honda-powered entry, nonetheless feels the presence of his former group proprietor and legendary racer.

“We solely see it as positives inside the group,” mentioned Kirkwood. “Clearly Michael remains to be round. It is not like he is vanished. I believe he’ll nonetheless play a job within the group, and for us, clearly I’ve that reference to not solely Michael however with all people on the group.

“We’re excited to go ahead, and clearly Dan and Michael have a plan, and their plan appears to be coming collectively, so we’re excited.”

And hopes are excessive for the group after a stout 2024 season in IndyCar, which noticed Colton Herta elevate his sport and seize two wins, six podiums, 11 high fives and three poles en path to a career-best second within the championship standings. For his half, Kirkwood additionally put collectively a good marketing campaign, ending a career-high seventh within the championship standings courtesy of 1 podium, 5 high fives, 13 high 10s and one pole. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, was an outlier among the many trio, struggling an underwhelming first 12 months with the group by ending fifteenth within the total standings.

“I believe with final 12 months’s outcomes, it gave me much more motivation to work even tougher,” mentioned Ericsson, driver of the No. 28 Honda. “I do not actually — I am not a believer in dangerous luck. Lots of people would say to me, ‘Sorry for final 12 months, dangerous luck.’ I do not actually imagine in that. I believe you make your individual luck.

“I simply did not do a adequate job final 12 months, so I wish to be certain I am higher this 12 months. I put in quite a lot of work with my psychological coach. Now we have weekly classes. I placed on 10 kilos of muscle on my bodily standing. I am stronger than I’ve ever been earlier than and I’ve began working doing simulator work by myself, so I am driving simulators nearly each day simply to observe since we do not have a lot driving within the low season, making an attempt to finesse my craft within the simulators.”

Though Herta introduced again the bravado of Andretti in 2024, he said that it “actually sucks” to complete second — solely 31 factors brief — to Alex Palou for the title. Andretti International haven’t gained a title since 2012 with Ryan Hunter-Reay, with Chip Ganassi Racing and Crew Penske combining to seize the final 12 IndyCar championships.

In reflection of what labored on unlocking that subsequent step for the group, Herta was fast to notice the features made on the brief and medium ovals.

“We have been good on superspeedways for essentially the most half, however that was form of the lacking piece for us, particularly whenever you take a look at the championship for our years that we dropped quite a lot of factors in these locations,” mentioned Herta, who will make his a hundredth IndyCar begin within the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2.

“However we turned it round having a podium and principally a high 5 in Milwaukee and a pole in Iowa. [At] Gateway, we got here from twenty fifth to fourth and the win in Nashville. We form of improved so much on these medium and shorter ovals, and that was form of the distinction maker for us.

“In order that fills me with quite a lot of confidence as a result of I do not assume our downside has actually ever been the road programs, and for essentially the most half we had been excellent at many of the highway programs. However these ovals have form of — for me, too, simply have not been my finest, and I believe they began to indicate that they are often a few of my finest for this coming 12 months.”

Colton Herta, Andretti International w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda

Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photos

And in relation to the Cadillac F1 program, which Herta has not solely been linked to, but additionally tabbed by 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti, who’s now on the board of GM’s racing program, there isn’t a lot misery over the scenario by the previous.

“Yeah, I do not actually have a priority with it in any respect,” Herta mentioned. “I’ve form of been dragged round on this speak for, it appears like, half a decade now. I’ve had the carrot in entrance of me for some time.

“I am form of uninterested in that being the case, and I simply wish to drive at this level and deal with IndyCar this 12 months and deal with successful a championship, and if one thing arises out of that, I would have to consider it. It is nonetheless not a for positive factor.

“All my family and friends are right here within the U.S., and I do not know anyone the place I am going, so it is a large choice to make if I’ve to make that call.”