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"The King" of stock car racing Richard Petty and Window World Inc. will again join the racing field of IZOD IndyCar famous race of Indy 500 in co-operation this time with the Andretti Racing Team.
Andretti Autosport chairman and CEO Michael Andretti announced that the team will field the No. 43 Team Window World car for his cousin John Andretti for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 Kansas Speedway oval, and for the following historic race of Indianapolis 500. Team has been in Victory Circle at Indianapolis with drivers Dan Wheldon (2005) and Dario Franchitti (2007) in seven years, and will complete the five-car lineup for this year’s race with regular drivers Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick.
The Andretti family has a long victorious history in Indianapolisa. Family patriarch Mario Andretti won the 500 Mile Race in 1969. Michael (Mario's son) had nine top-10 finishes (high of second) in 16 starts from 1984-2007, and his brother, Jeff, made three consecutive starts (high finish of 15th). Marco Andretti (Michael's son) has a pair of top-five finishes in four starts.
During the announcement Michael Andretti made the following quotes:
"The family put the pressure on me to get this done. I’m really excited to finally be able to get together with John and hope to give him a great chance at winning the race. Having Richard there is exciting. He is one of the true legends in our sport and someone I have always admired. Window World deserves a lot of credit for bringing all of this together and being a supporter of John.
I'm really excited to be able to be a part of this. Richard Petty is one of the true legends in our sport and someone I have always admired. Window World deserves a lot of credit for bringing all of this together. I have a lot of respect for John's talent - I always have. I really think he will fit in very well at Andretti Autosport and can be a factor during the month of May."
Andretti Autosport will supply the crew for the fifth entrant internally as Firestone Indy Lights doesn't run at Kansas and the Firestone Freedom 100 2 days before Indy 500. Andretti Autosport fielded a five-car team at Indy in 2006 and '07, and most recently at Infineon Raceway 2009 with Franck Montagny.
Michael's cousin John was equally as excited for the partnership:
"It would be difficult to script a scenario any better than the one we have here. The relationship I have with Richard, the respect I have for Michael and his team, the partnership I enjoy with Window World and all of it focused on the Indianapolis 500 – it’s really a perfect situation. I'm in a great place and ready for May."
Richard Petty and Window World, America's largest replacement window company, will enjoy its second-consecutive Indy 500 entry as primary sponsor of the #43 car driven by John Andretti. The car will once again feature Petty's traditional "Petty Blue" and "Day-Glo Red" color scheme made famous by "The King" during his unparalleled racing career.
Additionally, the car will also sport the marks of Window World Cares, the charitable foundation of Window World, Inc., which supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. The foundation is currently working in support of the company's newly-launched program, "Opening Windows for St. Jude Kids," through which Window World hopes to raise $1.5 million - the hospital's daily operating cost.Since its inception, Window World Cares has raised more than $630,000 for St. Jude.
Window World, Inc. president Blair Ingle said: "We’ve had the pleasure of working with John for a few years now, and we are big fans of his – both on and off the track. John’s talent combined with a strong team of Richard Petty and Andretti Autosport is sure to make for a great race for the No. 43 Window World car this May."
