Halfway through the Championship Auto Racing Teams season, Michael Andretti finds himself battling for his first series crown since 1991 and racing like he never has before.
Andretti enters Sunday's Michigan 500 at the two-mile banked Michigan International Speedway oval coming off a street course triumph last weekend at Toronto, one that put him within two points of leader Roberto Moreno of Brazil.
The former Formula One flop has come of age at 37, changing his former over-aggressive ways in favor of a conservative approach that has produced points and victories.
"It's old age," Andretti said. "I guess you learn."
The son of former F-1 and Indy-car champion Mario Andretti showed what he has learned last Sunday, restraining himself from reckless moves until the perfect moment, a pass on Adrian Fernandez for the lead late in the race when the Mexican was on cold tires just coming out of the pits.
"A few years ago, I probably wouldn't have done that," Andretti said. "I had a few times when I started to give it a go, then went, No-o-o-o-o.' A few years ago I probably would have tried (to make those risky passes). So notch one up to experience. I showed patience and it paid off."
The victory was the 40th of Andretti's CART career, best among active racers and second only to his father's 52 and A.J. Foyt's 67 among Indy-car racers. And Michael missed a year in 1993 when he failed miserably in F-1.
Andretti's other CART victory this season came in Japan in May.
Moreno leads Andretti 90-88 after 10 of 20 CART events but Andretti has been in the top 10 in seven of his past eight races. Brazil's Gil de Ferran is third with 75 points, two ahead of Canada's Paul Tracy and nine atop Sweden's Kenny Brack – (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
