Mario Andretti Designated Grand Marshal at Long Beach

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Mario Andretti Designated Grand Marshal at Long Beach & INDYCAR Drivers racing in 12 Hours of Sebring.

Mario Andretti to be grand marshal at Long Beach: Mario Andretti, who won three Indy car races and the 1977 Formula One race on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., will be the grand marshal of the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13 2014. “It is totally appropriate to have Mario as grand marshal for our 40th race,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “Over the years, he has been an important part of our history and heritage, and we’re happy to honor his contributions to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in this way.”

Andretti won the 1984, ’85 and ’87 CART-sanctioned races on the 1.67-mile temporary circuit, while his son, Michael Andretti, won the 1986 race (Mario started third and finished fifth).  The ’84 race was the opener of Mario Andretti’s last of four (3 USAC, 1 CART) championship seasons.

“I raced for four decades on just about every course imaginable,” said Andretti, whose grandson, Marco Andretti, will compete in the race in the Car 25 Andretti Autosport car. “And I have been associated with the Grand Prix of Long Beach since its beginning in 1975. So I think I speak with authority when I say that it is by far the most successful street race ever staged in American motor racing history.

“Obviously, the fondest memories I have of the streets of Long Beach are my victories, but the entertainment and ambiance away from the track has also become classic. No one leaves Long Beach without vowing to come back. It is truly amongst the best I’ve ever seen and I’m proud to be serving as grand marshal this year.”

INDYCAR Drivers Racing in 12 Hours of Sebring

Some INDYCAR Series drivers are racing in 12 Hours of Sebring:  Sebastien Bourdais co-driving the Action Express Racing car in the 12 Hours of Sebring trying to make 2 endurance race victories in a row. Sebastien Bourdais rejoins Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa in the Corvette Daytona Prototype. Action Express Racing won this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. Simon Pagenaud, will co-drive an Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-03b. Scott Dixon 2013 IndyCar Series champion, will be co-drive

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Daytona Prototype with 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion and new Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Tony Kanaan and 2013 Firestone Indy Lights champion Sage Karam. Also on the entry list: Justin Wilson in the Michael Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Daytona Prototype, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires driver Gabby Chaves in the DeltaWing Racing Cars entry, Ryan Briscoe in the Corvette Racing GT Le Mans class entry and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the SRT Motorports car in GT Le Mans. Martin Plowman, who will drive for A.J. Foyt Racing in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis and make his Indianapolis 500 debut in May, will co-drive a BAR-1 Motorsports entry in the Prototype Challenge class. NBCSN IndyCar Series analyst and Indianapolis 500 competitor Townsend Bell will co-drive an AIM Autosport car in the GT Daytona class.

The 2014 IndyCar Series opens with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 30 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race will be televised live by ABC at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including Sirius and XM Channels 209 and the INDYCAR app for most smartphones and tablets.

http://www.indycar.com/

 

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