Andretti Autosport announced Wednesday it will field a joint effort with racing legend Richard Petty to field a fifth team entry for veteran driver John Andretti, first at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 1 and then in the Indianapolis 500. Andretti's car will again be backed by Window World, Inc., which backed the Andretti/Petty program at Indy last year, then fielded by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Now he'll be returning in the team owned by his cousin, Michael Andretti. As last year, the car will run in the florescent red and blue color scheme made famous by Petty in NASCAR, and carry Petty's familiar No. 43.
The car also will 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.
“It would be difficult to script a scenario any better than the one we have here," said John Andretti. 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 can't wait to get in the car and get to work. May can't get here soon enough.”