INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – Jan. 30, 2014

Today’s IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Catching up with… Marco Andretti 

2. Media honors INDYCAR drivers with All-America honors

3. Alfe returns to sponsor Foyt team

1. Catching up with… Marco Andretti: Marco Andretti enters his ninth season as an IndyCar Series driver coming off a career best of fifth in the championship, which he credited to work before the 2013 season. For 2014, Andretit will sport the blue and yellow colors of Snapple, and he aims to take the next step and win the IndyCar Series championship.

In the latest installment of Catching Up With…, the third-generation driver talks about his Andretti Autosport car’s new look, his offseason exploits and the new addition to his family — a bulldog named Moodie.

Q. You’ll be carrying the Snapple colors in 2014, and while Dr Pepper/Snapple isn’t a new sponsor for you, is carrying one of the name brands is a big deal for you?

A. Those guys (at Dr Pepper/Snapple) have been so loyal, really to the whole team, but to me, especially. (To have a sponsor for) six years and running is awesome. Really, I want to give those guys what they deserve and that’s a bunch of wins, the Indy 500 and the championship.

Q. Before last season, you took the step to work with a driver coach and do what needed to be done to improve as a driver. What have you been doing in this offseason to take the next big step in your career?

A. If you look at what cost us wins last year, really we just need to do a lot of the same things we did last year and really capitalize on leading those laps by leading the right laps. The disappointing stat for me is 1,000 laps led (Andretti has led 907) but only two victories. Really, we need to be there when it counts.

Q. The offseason is also a time for you to kick back and relax with your friends. I know you try to take trip each year with (comedian) Kevin Hart and (recording artist/actor) Ludacris. Where did you guys head off to this year?

A. We went to Anguilla and did some island-hopping (in the Caribbean). We went to St. Maarten and then the Dominican Republic with Ice-T and Coco on the way back. We really spoiled ourselves this offseason. That’s what we normally do. I take some prize money and just get away and relax. But as soon as I get there, all I want to do is come back and get to work.

Q. And you adopted a bulldog puppy from Ice and Coco as well. How is life with Moodie?

A. She’s a lunatic, that dog. Moodie always wants to play when we’re sleeping, which I don’t know how that’s going to work when I’m staying at home for Pocono. She’s probably going to my mom’s, for sure.

2. Media honors INDYCAR drivers with All-America honors:  IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves and 2013 Indy Lights champion Sage Karam have been selected to the 2013 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America team.

Dixon, who claimed his third IndyCar Series Championship for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, and Castroneves, who finished second in the standings for Team Penske were the top vote getters in the Open Wheel division. Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport and Will Power of Team Penske were named to the second team.

Karam was honored as one of the two top vote getters in the At Large category while Andretti Autosport’s Carlos Munoz was voted the Rising Star award after success in both Indy Lights and a second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500.

Founded in 1955, AARWBA is a motorsports organization comprised of writers, broadcasters, photographers and other media-related professionals. 

The organization’s charter is aimed at providing not only proper recognition for members of the motorsports media, but to recognize their work as well as the work of the competitors that they follow in print, on the air, and on film.

3. Alfe returns to sponsor Foyt team: Alfe Heat Treating returns as a major associate sponsor of the ABC Supply/AJ Foyt Racing team in 2014, marking their fourth straight year with the team.

The Ft. Wayne, Indiana-based company has continued to find ways to leverage its motorsports marketing partnership since its entry into the sport. 

“We feel Indy car is a great way to present Alfe Heat Treating to the public and show our customers we have a solid relationship to the automotive industry, as well as give our employees something to relate to, look forward to, and enjoy away from the work week,” said Kurt Westman, president and founder of one of the nation’s largest heat treating services company.  “Overall the feedback has been positive from both the customer and employee base.” 

Beginning as a limited race sponsorship, Alfe’s support has evolved into a season-long association with one of the IndyCar Series’ oldest and most storied teams.

“We’re honored to have Alfe be a part of our team,” said team owner A.J. Foyt. “Everyone I’ve ever met from Alfe has been great. They really seem to enjoy themselves when they come to the races and I’m so glad that they got to experience being in victory lane last year. Hopefully I’m there too the next time.”