Stick around, John

Posted by Iannucci | 5/30/2008 | 9 comments »
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Jay Howard's sabbatical just got extended.

Roth Racing is pleased to announce that veteran John Andretti will remain with the team as the driver of the #24 car for two more races beginning with this weekend's race in Milwaukee. He will also be behind the wheel next Saturday night in Texas.

Although Andretti has never raced at Milwaukee in an IRL sanctioned event, he has competed in 4 CART races at the track, and has 3 top 10's, including a 2nd place in 1991 when he finished behind his cousin Michael and ahead of his uncle Mario in an all Andretti podium.


Umm, wasn't 1991 like SEVENTEEN years ago? No offense to John who drove well at Indy this year, but let's give some sympathy to the poor PR person who had to spin the "he ran well here 17 years ago" angle. That's the biggest reach since David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII.

In all likelihood this announcement will introduce another round of "Marty needs to replace himself" comments here and elsewhere, which although obvious are futile. As noted previously Marty probably got into racing to become a driver and not an owner, so presuming that to be the case the larger question is if he would even bother to remain an owner were he not one of the drivers for Roth Racing.

So would you rather have Roth employ himself and some other able driver or would it be better for the league if he simply took his two Dallara toys and went home?

9 comments

  1. Anonymous // May 30, 2008 1:47 PM  

    There is a pretty good write up on Indycar.com by poster "Ken"

    Personally I have to agree with a good majority of what he says and I am all for tightening up the stipulations on "TEAM" where only teams who want to particpate in this program have to designate a driver for the year and the team MUST stick with that driver for the entire season to be paid by the league.

    It is a great concept and stops teams like Roth from milking it for all they can get.

    But here is the link to the posting mentioned.

    http://www.indycar.com/news/talkback/topic.php?t=12315

  2. Jennifer Coomer // May 30, 2008 2:30 PM  

    Just some thoughts...

    Marty seems to be passionate about racing. And I respect that.

    I'd rather have him around than people who have one foot out the door.

    Every group needs it foil.

  3. Meesh // May 30, 2008 4:35 PM  

    I betcha Jay is rethinking holding his tongue back in May when he first got bent over and "abused"

    Jay, you need to start looking for another ride sweetie, it's clear that they aren't interested in results (otherwise Roth would get the F out of the car himself)

  4. Ansen Bayer // May 30, 2008 5:44 PM  

    Maybe Roth can pull keeping John around and then sticking Jay in the other car next year? Even throw a third car in there for himself in May?

  5. Anonymous // May 30, 2008 6:02 PM  

    Even though I am a fan of John Andretti - he's from my home town, Brownsburg, IN- I agree with anonymous. Isn't this a bit like Napcab "road course specialists" ? Ins it in the best intrest of keeping talented drivers in this league to start replacing them for "special" circumstances ? I would rather see John have a full time ride than getting a bad bill as a part-time replacement driver. To similar to what he has experienced in that other series he's been trying to run in.

  6. Anonymous // May 30, 2008 6:14 PM  

    I feel bad for the kid who got taken out of the car

  7. Anonymous // May 30, 2008 6:26 PM  

    I'd feel worse for Jay if he had to keep comparing his car with "the Marty setup"

  8. Anonymous // May 31, 2008 10:00 AM  

    kinda sucks, on one hand you have to be happy for john andretti, its not like he hasn't earned a ride in whatever series he wants, but it sucks for Jay especially after they went on air promising the ride to him after the 500. Its also tough to point the finger at Roth, they are his cars and he more than has the right to do as he wished, and I think it is important to realize that he was giving howard a ride out of his own pocket, no other team out there was doing that.
    That said i hope howard can make the best out of what roth gave him, and maybe roth will realize that he cannot do road courses and let jay and john drive his cars on them.

  9. Meesh // May 31, 2008 11:26 AM  

    apparently he can't do ovals either... (may have trashed the car irreparably for the weekend in this morning's practice...) (karma...)