Jeff Andretti

Jeff Andretti (born April 14, 1964) is a former American race car driver. He competed in CART, and was the series' Rookie of the Year in 1991.

Jeff Andretti
Andretti at the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Legends Day
Nationality American
Born (1964-04-14) April 14, 1964
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Awards1991 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year
1991 PPG Indy Car World Series Rookie of the Year
Champ Car career
21 races run over 5 years
Years active1990–1994
Team(s)TEAMKAR International (1990)
Bayside Motorsports (1991)
A. J. Foyt Enterprises (1992)
Pagan Racing (1993)
Euromotorsports, Hemelgarn Racing (1994)
Best finish15th (1991)
First race1990 Miller Genuine Draft 200 (Milwaukee)
Last race1994 Slick 50 200 (Phoenix)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
3 races run over 1 year
Best finish64th (1999)
First race1999 Pronto Auto Parts 400K (Texas)
Last race1999 NAPA Autocare 200 (Nazareth)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Personal life

Jeff is the youngest son of the legendary Italian-born Mario Andretti, younger brother of Michael Andretti, and uncle of Marco Andretti. Jeff is the nephew of Mario's twin Aldo Andretti and cousin of Aldo's sons John Andretti and Adam Andretti. The Andretti family became the first family to have four relatives (Michael, Mario, Jeff, and John) compete in the same series (CART).[1]

Racing career

In 1983, Jeff was racing in Formula Fords, winning both the USCA Pro Ford Championship and the Skip Barber Formula Ford Eastern Series. After qualifying for his Sports Car Club of America national license in 1984, he won the Northeast Division title in Formula Ford. In the November, he made his Formula Super Vee debut at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.[2]

He continued in Formula Super Vee the following season, with the Ralt America outfit, winning the third race of the season, on the Milwaukee Mile. In the CART race at the same event, Mario did the same, marking the first time a father and son had started from pole and won races on the same track, in the same weekend. Jeff would also win in Cleveland and Phoenix, on his way the fifth in the Robert Bosch/Valvoline Championship.[2][3]

1986 saw Andretti move into the new American Racing Series with Ralph Sanchez Racing. Like his Milwaukee win the previous year, his only race win was a "family affair". He earned his first ARS victory at Pocono, as his father wins the CART race at the same meeting, after his brother, Michael had started from pole, giving the Andretti family a "clean sweep." Jeff would go on and finish second the overall ARS standing. For 1987, Jeff switched to Arciero Racing for another attempt at ARS, winning the opening race of the season, in Phoenix. He would revisit the top step of the podium in the series finale, in the race around Tamiami Park, Miami, snatching second place in the championship away from Tommy Byrne in the process.[2][4][5]

After in quiet 1988, Andretti took a new challenge for 1989, competing in the Toyota Atlantic, while developing a new chassis. Although the season was winless, he did earned Rookie of the Year honours, on his to sixth in the Atlantic Division.[2][4][6]

He moved into the CART ranks in 1990, joining his father and brother, making racing history, making it the first time a father has competed against his two sons in a CART race. After failing to qualifier for the Indianapolis 500, he make his race debut with TEAMKAR International in their Lola-Cosworth T89/00 in the Miller Genuine Draft 200 on the Milwaukee Mile, only to suffer mechanical problems and not finish. He sat out the rest of the season, returning in 1991, doing a full season with Bayside Disposal Racing, driving their Texaco Havoline Star sponsored Lola-Cosworth T91/00. With four top ten finishes throughout the season, three of which were the first three races, the best being a 7th place in the Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix; the race incidentally won by his cousin, John, earning the CART Rookie of the Year title.[2][7][8]

In May 1991, Jeff would qualify 11th for the Indianapolis 500, coupled with an outstanding performance before mechanical problems earned him the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year title. He followed his Mario and Michael in making it the first time ever, that three members of the same family have achieved this.[9]

Earlier that year, Jeff joined Mario and Michael to race for Jochen Dauer Racing in the SunBank 24 at Daytona. Although their Porsche 962C was classified in fifth place, they failed to finish due to overheating.[10]

Aftermath of the crash at the 1992 Indy 500.

Without for full-time drive for 1992, Andretti returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with A. J. Foyt Enterprises. Unfortunately, he became yet another victim of the infamous Andretti Curse at the famed race track when on lap 109, a right rear wheel came loose off his car at Turn 2 and he crashed violently head-on into the wall, smashing both his legs. He spent three weeks at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, before the long road to recovery, determined to race again in 1993.[2][11]

It was February 1993, when Andretti set the (then) unofficial closed-course speed record for IndyCars of 234.50 mph, the fastest speed ever recorded at Texas World Speedway, while testing for the Indianapolis 500. This marked his first time back in an IndyCar since the accident the previous year. Andretti's fast run came at the conclusion of two days of testing where he consistently posted laps in the 230 mph range. Andretti's Buick-powered Lola was prepared by Pagan Racing. It was at the Indy, that Jeff made his complete his comeback, only to record a third straight DNF.[2][12]

The accident severely hampered Andretti's career, at least in terms of his competitiveness, since he was never the same afterwards. In 1994, Jeff did a one-off race with Euromotorsports, finishing 17th in the Slick 50 200, held at the Phoenix International Raceway, albeit 21 laps adrift. Come May, Jeff had switched to Hemelgarn Racing, but he’s bid for a fourth consecutive start failed due to a blown Buick engine.[13]>[2]

He later managed, however, to come back and race full-time in the Indy Lights with Canaska Racing in 1995, but recorded just one top-ten finish. For 1996, he stepped away from open-wheel racing and joined the tin-top brigade, racing to seventh place overall in the North American Touring Car Championship in a Leitzinger Racing prepared Ford Mondeo. After a gap of three year, he moved to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 94 Chevrolet for Enerjetix Motorsports, he raced in three events in 1999, posting a best finish of 30th at the Milwaukee Mile.[2][4][14][15]

Andretti is now retired from competitive racing, and works as a driving instructor.[16]

Racing record

Career highlights

Season Series Position Team Car
1985 Robert Bosch Formula Super Vee Championship[17][18] 5th Ralt American Ralt-Volkswagen RT5
1986 CART American Racing Series[19][20] 2nd Ralph Sanchez Racing March-Buick 86A/2
1987 CART American Racing Series[21][22] 2nd Arciero Racing March-Buick 86A
1988 HFC American Racing Series[23][24] 21st Hemelgarn Racing
Agapiou Racing
March-Buick 86A
1989 SCCA Toyota Atlantic Championship - Atlantic Division[6][25] 6th Newman Racing Reynard-Toyota 89H
HFC American Racing Series[26][27] 27th Baci Racing March-Buick 86A
1990 CART PPG Indy Car World Series[28] 38th TEAMKAR International Lola-Cosworth T89/00
1991 CART PPG Indy Car World Series[29] 15th Bayside Disposal Racing Lola-Cosworth T91/00
USAC Gold Crown Series[30] 15th Bayside Disposal Racing Lola-Cosworth T91/00
Camel GT Championship season[31][32] 29th Jochen Dauer Racing Porsche 962C
1992 USAC Gold Crown Series[33] 18th A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola-Chevrolet T91/00
CART PPG Indy Car World Series[34] 49th A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola-Chevrolet T91/00
1993 USAC Gold Crown Series[35] 29th Pagan Racing Lola-Buick T92/00
CART PPG Indy Car World Series[36] 53rd Pagan Racing Lola-Buick T92/00
1994 CART PPG Indy Car World Series[37][38] 44th Euromotosport
Hemelgarn Racing
Lola-Ilmor T93/00
Lola-Buick T92/00
1995 PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship powered by Buick[39][40] 19th Camaska Racing Lola-Buick T93/20
1996 North American Touring Car Championship[41][42] 7th Leitzinger Racing Ford Mondeo Ghia
1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series[43][44] 64th Enerjetix Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

YearTrackCarEngineClassFinishStartStatus
1984Road AtlantaSwift DB1FordFormula Ford352Retired

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1984 901 Shop Mike Schaefer
Nick Nicholson
Jeff Refenning
Porsche 911 SC GTU 258 43rd
(DNF)
12th
(DNF)
1988 Buick Momo March Steve Phillips
Michael Roe
March-Buick 86G GTP 485 53rd
(DNF)
14th
(DNF)
1991 Jochen Dauer Racing Mario Andretti
Michael Andretti
Porsche 962C GTP 663 5th
(DNF)
3rd
(DNF)

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1993 Auto Toy Store Wayne Taylor
Morris Shirazi
Spice-Chevrolet SE90P GTP 165 37th
(DNF)
7th
(DNF)

American Open Wheel racing results

(key)

American Racing Series / Indy Lights

American Racing Series / Indy Lights results
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
1986 Ralph Sanchez Racing PHX1
5
MIL
3
MEA
10
TOR
10
POC
1
MDO
4
ROA
2
LS
14
PHX2
4
MIA
3
2nd 107
1987 Arciero Racing PHX
1
MIL
11
MEA
2
CLE
4
TOR
8
POC
2
MDO
5
NAZ
3
LS
7
MIA
1
2nd 123
1988 Hemelgarn Racing PHX
14
MIL
11
POR
11
CLE TOR MEA MIA
17
23rd 5
Agapiou Racing POC
14
MDO ROA NAZ LS
1989 Baci Racing PHX LBH MIL DET POR MEA TOR POC MDO ROA NAZ
10
LS 27th 3
1995 Canaska Racing MIA
15
PHX
DNS
LBH
20
NAZ
10
MIL
19
DET
12
POR TOR
11
CLE
20
NHA
7
VAN LS 19th 12

CART

PPG IndyCar World Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1990 TEAMKAR International Lola T89/00 Cosworth DFS V8t PHX
LBH
INDY
DNQ
MIL
17
DET
POR
CLE
MEA
TOR
MIS
DEN
VAN
MDO
ROA
NAZ
LAG
37th 0
1991 Bayside Disposal Racing Lola T91/00 Cosworth DFS V8t SRF
7
LBH
9
PHX
10
INDY
15
MIL
11
DET
16
POR
12
CLE
16
MEA
23
TOR
9
MIS
12
DEN
12
VAN
11
MDO
22
ROA
18
NAZ
11
LAG
13
15th 26
1992 A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola T91/00 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF
PHX
LBH
INDY
18
DET
POR
MIL
NHA
TOR
MIC
CLE
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LAG
49th 0
1993 Pagan Racing Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t SRF
PHX
LBH
INDY
29
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MIC
NHA
ROA
VAN
MDO
NAZ
LAG
53rd 0
1994 Euromotorsports Lola T93/00 Ilmor 265C V8t SRF
PHX
17
LBH
44th 0
Hemelgarn Racing Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t INDY
DNQ
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
TOR
MIC
MDO
NHA
VAN
ROA
NAZ
LAG

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1990 Lola T89/00 Cosworth DFS V8t DNQ
1991 Lola T91/00 Cosworth DFS V8t 11 15
1992 Lola T91/00 Chevrolet 265A V8t 20 18
1993 Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t 16 29
1994 Lola T92/00 Buick 3300 V6t DNQ

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts
1999 Enerjetix Motorsports 94 Chevy HOM PHO EVG MMR MAR MEM PPR I70 BRI TEX
31
PIR GLN MLW
30
NSV NZH
31
MCH NHA IRP GTY HPT RCH LVS LVL TEX CAL 64th 213

North American Touring Car Championship

(key)

North American Touring Car Championship results
Year Team No. Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NATCC Pts
1996 Leitzinger Racing 5 Ford Mondeo LRP LRP DET
5
DET
6
PIR
6
PIR
6
TOR
DNS
TOR
DNS
TRV
9
TRV
5
MOH
6
MOH
10
VAN
6
VAN
7
LS
9
LS
5
7th 106

References

  1. Schwartz, Larry. "Mario Andretti synonymous with racing". Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. ESPN. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  2. "Everything about Jeff Andretti Driver Coach for Jeff Andretti Coaching Group". jeffandretticoachinggroup.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-26.
  3. "1985 Robert Bosch Formula Super Vee Championship". teamdan.com.
  4. "Jeff Andretti". driverdb.com.
  5. "Jeff Andretti Career Statistics - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info.
  6. "1989 SCCA Toyota Atlantic Championship - Atlantic Division". champcarstats.com.
  7. "1990 Miller Genuine Draft 200". racing-reference.info.
  8. "CART Results for 1991 - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info.
  9. "1991 Indianapolis 500". racing-reference.info.
  10. "Jeff Andretti (USA)'s cars - Photo Gallery - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com.
  11. "1992 Indianapolis 500". racing-reference.info.
  12. "Lodi News-Sentinel - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  13. "1994 Slick 50 200". racing-reference.info.
  14. "Jayski's® Silly Season Site - Past News Page". jayski.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  15. "Jeff Andretti". racing-reference.info.
  16. Auto-racing.speedtv.com Archived May 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  17. "Formula Super Vee USA Robert Bosch/Valvoline Championship 1985 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  18. Teamdan.com
  19. "American Racing Series 1986 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  20. "CART American Racing Series standings for 1986". racing-reference.info.
  21. "American Racing Series 1987 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  22. "CART American Racing Series standings for 1987". racing-reference.info.
  23. "HFC American Racing Series 1988 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  24. "CART American Racing Series standings for 1988". racing-reference.info.
  25. "Formula Atlantic SCCA - East Coast Division 1989 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  26. "HFC American Racing Series 1989 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  27. "CART American Racing Series standings for 1989". racing-reference.info.
  28. "CART standings for 1990". racing-reference.info.
  29. "CART standings for 1991". racing-reference.info.
  30. "USAC Gold Crown Series standings for 1991". racing-reference.info.
  31. "IMSA Camel GTP Championship 1991 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  32. "IMSA - final positions and tables". classicscars.com.
  33. "USAC Gold Crown Series standings for 1992". racing-reference.info.
  34. "CART standings for 1992". racing-reference.info.
  35. "USAC Gold Crown Series standings for 1993". racing-reference.info.
  36. "CART standings for 1993". racing-reference.info.
  37. "PPG Indy Car World Series 1994 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  38. "CART standings for 1994". racing-reference.info.
  39. "PPG/Firestone Indy Lights Championship 1995 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  40. "Firestone / Dayton Indy Lights standings for 1995". racing-reference.info.
  41. "North American Super Touring Championship 1996 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  42. "North American Touring Car Championship standings for 1996". racing-reference.info.
  43. "NASCAR Truck Series 1999 standings - Driver Database". driverdb.com.
  44. "NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings for 1999". racing-reference.info.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Eddie Cheever
Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year
1991
Succeeded by
Lyn St. James
Preceded by
Eddie Cheever
CART Rookie of the Year
1991
Succeeded by
Stefan Johansson
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