Andretti Global Chief Operations Officer Rob Edwards says that the team is excited to be going racing again as the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets underway with the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding this weekend.
We’re excited to be going racing again. The off-season has been good for us with the opportunity to get significant test mileage with Colton, Kyle and Marcus. The three drivers are working well together, and there is a renewed focus around the team with the opportunities running three cars brings. There has been a lot of good work done away from the track, and now it’s showtime. St. Pete will be our first INDYCAR race as Andretti Global, so there’s no better way to start than with a win.”
For the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, Andretti Global has scaled back their program from four to three cars and has also brought in 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson from Chip Ganassi Racing and looking ahead to the start of the season, Ericsson who won here last season commented saying:
“It is very special to return to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as the defending champion. There is always a great atmosphere surrounding this race with all the fans that support us throughout the weekend. As for the track, it is quite a challenging one with the middle part of the lap that’s very tight and twisty. You also have the unique challenge of the painted lines on the airstrip which are usually very slick and give others a chance to attack and pass in Turn 1. I’m looking forward to representing Delaware Life in my first race with the Andretti INDYCAR team.”’
Kyle Kirkwood is back in the No.27 AutoNation Honda and speaking ahead of the start of the new season he commented saying:
“The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is one of my favorite races on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar. As a Florida native, I consider St. Petersburg to be a home race for me in a way. The track has a lot of unique corners and features where we have views of the water and the opportunity to race down the runway of an airstrip. Overall, St. Petersburg is a place I really adore, and I can’t wait to kick off the season with the AutoNation crew.”
Colton Herta in the No.26 Gainbridge Honda is looking forward to the start of the new season saying:
“It’s great to be back in St. Petersburg for the first race of the 2024 season. With multiple overtaking possibilities, the track always provides action-packed racing. I was fortunate to capture a win in St. Pete in 2021, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda this weekend.”