John Andretti
No. 10 RVs.com/Camping World Ford Fusion
Busch Silver Celebration 250/ Gateway International Raceway
Saturday, July 29, 2006
ANDRETTI LOOKS FORWARD TO FIRST EVER RACE AT GATEWAY
Although some would argue Andretti’s rookie status in the Busch Series, there is no doubt he truly is a rookie to Gateway International Raceway. Having never raced on the track before, Andretti will have a “Midwestern” learning curve ahead of him. Momentum from Martinsville has the team confident. Andretti and the #10 ppc Racing crew brought home their best finish of the season last weekend in Martinsville. After running up front all day, Andretti finished in the seventh position.
RVs.com/Camping World team is taking chassis #1503 to Martinsville. This is the same car Andretti raced in New Hampshire and Phoenix earlier this season where he finished 18th and 34th respectively.
Andretti is currently second in the Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year point standings, just two points behind leader, Burney Lamar.
Holding steady in the 12th position in the Busch Series driver point standings, Andretti is just 76 points away from the 10th position, held by ppc Racing teammate, Kenny Wallace. The #10 team is also 12th in series owner point standings.
ANDRETTI AT GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Saturday’s running of the Busch Silver Celebration 250 will mark Andretti’s first ever race at Gateway International Raceway. Andretti has never even been to the St. Louis 1.25-mile oval. Despite his lack of race experience at Gateway, Andretti is confident the veteran team’s experience will spell success for the #10 ppc Racing Ford. In the six Gateway races ppc Racing teams have entered, they have finished in the top-10 eight times and captured a win in 2003 with driver Scott Riggs.
CREW CHIEF RICK GAY ON THE BUSCH SILVER CELEBRATION 250 AND GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
“The track shape at Gateway makes setting up the car a little more difficult. It’s got a Martinsville corner on one end and a Phoenix corner on the other end. It’s very difficult to get the car set up for both ends of the racetrack so you have to sacrifice the set up of one for the other. I’m looking forward to Gateway even though John has never been there. We should do well because of ppc Racing’s experience there. We should be able to bring home another top-10 this weekend and hopefully take over the lead in the Rookie Standings.”
