Veterans undergo Indy ‘rookie’ testing

INDIANAPOLIS – Michael Andretti may be a little older, a few years removed from the cockpit and, as a result, forced to prove he can still guide an Indy car around the Brickyard.

No reason to call him rusty, though.

Andretti easily topped 220 mph Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the fastest among a handful of drivers who went through mandatory testing, including his son Marco, two-time Indy winner Al Unser Jr. and three first-year drivers.

“It was really a special day, for sure,” said Michael Andretti, who last drove at Indianapolis in 2003.

Mandatory testing for this year’s crop of rookies began Sunday; Unser and Michael Andretti were required to take part because they had not competed in more than a year.

“I don’t care,” laughed Unser, who decided to make a comeback because he was simply bored after one year of retirement. “It’s additional practice, which is great.”

Unser came out late in the day and took nine leisurely laps, with a top speed of 206.387 mph. Andretti was the fastest, completing 51 laps with a top speed of 220.999 mph, while 19-year-old son and rookie teammate Marco Andretti had 85 laps and was second in speed at 220.572.

Michael Andretti, one of the most successful open-wheel racers in history, has never won at Indy as a driver. But as a co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, Michael won the 500 last year with driver Dan Wheldon.

Marco joined the team after Wheldon joined Ganassi Racing, and Michael decided to make a comeback so he could drive in Marco’s rookie race.

Full practice for the May 28 race begins Tuesday.

All three Andrettis took part in a track-opening ceremony Sunday morning, driving two laps, side-by-side, around the 2 1/2 -mile oval. Marco and Michael were in this year’s Dallara race cars, while Mario drove the car he used as a rookie in 1965.