IndyCar team owner Michael Andretti has confirmed that his company Andretti Autosport are seriously considering branching out from IndyCar and setting up a team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Although IndyCar is extremely popular, NASCAR is America's premiere Motor Racing category.
Michael Andretti confirmed that they looked into setting up a team last year and for this year but they were unable to put the sponsors or engine deal in place. It would very interesting if it was to happen as Andretti would join fellow IndyCar team owners Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi who have managed to transfer their success in IndyCar to the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
It has emerged however that Dodge who are losing the Penske team to Ford next year are very keen to team up with Andretti Autosport in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Andretti has said that the scope to attract big sponsors in NASCAR is one of the reasons why he is looking to set up a team.
So here's an interesting scenerio, with Danica Patrick now racing in NASCAR full time could she leave JR Motorsport and join her old IndyCar boss in NASCAR? Danica arrival in NASCAR has proven to be a huge success for both parties and she enjoyed some great results during her five008 year stint with Michael Andretti's Anretti Green Racing and later Andretti Autosport Indy team. Their main success came at the 2008 Japan Indy 300 when Danica became the first female driver to win an open wheel race.
I believe that this would make huge commercial sense for both parties particularly for Andretti because Danica has experience of racing in NASCAR and who is driving a Dodge car. So we'll have to watch this space.
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