The Andretti family’s 44-year drought at the Indianapolis Speedway, called a curse by everyone but the family itself, will continue for at least another year, as Marco Andretti finished fourth on Sunday in the Indianapolis 500.
2013 Indianapolis 500 results: Marco Andretti comes up short once again
Marco Andretti remained inside the top five for nearly the entirety of the 2013 Indianapolis 500, but he had to be content with fourth as a late caution ended his bid for a first Borg-Warner Trophy.
Jamie Squire
Andretti led the most laps for the second consecutive season, but he was shuffled away from the lead pack late in the race and unable to make a move on the final restart before another caution ended the race on lap 197.
Despite another Indy 500 getting away late in the race, Andretti leaves Indianapolis leading the IndyCar championship standings and feeling fortunate to see his former teammate and longtime friend Tony Kanaan win the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
“It was kind frustrating getting shuffled back,” Andretti said. “Also frustrated because fourth is about as far back as we were all day. Having said that I think TK (Tony Kanaan), if there is anybody that deserves to win, it’s him so congratulations to him.
“I think we are frustrated, but we are leading the points now and even though it’s early, that still feels good.”
Ultimately, Andretti wishes the final four laps had remained green.
He had one of the best cars in traffic all day and believes the final run would have played directly into his favor. Andretti, looking back to his near-win in 2006 and dominant performance in 2012, believes that he just needs some luck over the final 10 laps in the coming seasons.
“I think we would have had a darn good shot,” Andretti said. “But that’s the way the cards fell. Hopefully one of these times it will work in our favor. But I had a lot of fun the majority of the race; it just slipped away there at end.
“But, my nightmare has always been that last 10 laps. I think we were in prime position, but Dario’s yellow just hurts.”
Dario Franchitti crashed in Turn 1 to bring out the caution that ended the race. Andretti is still looking for his first win since the 2011 season and will have two chances this weekend on the streets of Belle Isle in Detroit. Andretti leads the championship standings by 11 points over Takuma Sato.
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