Marco Andretti Wins Pole For Indy 500

NASCAR driver Marco Andretti is a second-generation racer – his grandfather Mario Andretti notably having issues with the Indy 500 when he won the race only once in 1969 then never again, going 1-29 at the Indy 500. Fifty-one years later, Andretti’s grandson Marco Andretti, won the pole position for this year’s race by outlasting original pole holder Scott Dixon.

“Obviously, I was emotional. We put so much into it. This place means so much to us as a family,” Marco Andretti said. “We’ve just been through so many ups and downs at this place. Obviously, my [late] cousin, John, is riding with me, my grandfather from home. “I’m happier now than I’ve ever been. I jumped so high I hit my head on the ceiling and it’s a 9-foot ceiling. He knows what he needs to do to get the best out of the car and minimize mistakes. He’s seriously focused on winning the 500.”

It was unfortunate for Andretti to win pole for the first time in the Indy 500’s hundred-plus year history that it had to keep its gates closed due to coronavirus concerns. “An Andretti on the pole at Indianapolis – too bad we couldn’t hear the crowd explode,” teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay said. While the elation of the win is still lingering, the pressure on Andretti will undoubtedly build as the week goes on as he tries to break the “Andretti Curse.” This was Marco’s fifteenth attempt at winning pole and after that long of not winning he may be in his own head at this point but he is trying to stay positive.

“I’m hoping the Andretti curse doesn’t exist in August,” he said.