Andretti Uses Late Restart To Win Detroit Grand Prix

Experience and reflexes gave Michael Andretti the winning edge Sunday in the ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix.

Andretti, the winningest active driver in the PPG Indy Car World Series, passed Newman-Haas Racing teammate Christian Fittipaldi on a restart with six laps remaining and went on to his second victory at Detroit. The win was the 33rd in the 33-year-old Andretti’s career.

With the 2-hour time limit allotted to the race running out, Andretti was surprised to get a shot at Fittipaldi, who had been leading since the second lap on the temporary circuit on Detroit’s Belle Isle.

Andretti had been trailing Fittipaldi by about 3 seconds before a caution flag put the two cars nose-to-tail for the restart on lap 66. Four turns after the green flag waved, Andretti nosed his Ford-powered Lola under Fittipaldi’s and shot into the lead.