Q: What are the chances of the team running a fourth car this year?
MICHAEL ANDRETTI: We're still working hard. It's nice to get the third car done so we can focus on the fourth, trying to get it done. We've got a lot of irons in the fire.
Chances are, I'd say, 60 percent to 70 percent at the moment. Definitely better than 50/50. Hopefully we'll have something done in two or three weeks.
Q: James, we can argue this ride you're going into is one of the flagship rides of the series, based on the team you're driving for, the sponsor's visibility and other factors. Do you sense a certain amount of pressure that goes along with this opportunity? If so, how do you plan to break down that pressure so you can focus on your job in the car?
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: I think the job in the car comes naturally. No matter what team you're driving for, what sponsor is on the side of the car, you put a lot of pressure on yourself as a competitor to do your best job every time you strap in.
I used to get a question about pressure when I went to Toronto. The home races are extra pressure. When the visor is down it's just a racetrack. You put the same amount of pressure on yourself everywhere you go. I think it's similar whether you're in different team situations or sponsor situations. From that side of it, it's going to be the same job: I have to go out and drive the racecar as best I can.
Off track, Go Daddy has done some incredible things with their activation and commercially. I think there's definitely going to be a little more work on my side there. But that is the nature of our sport. I actually really enjoy that side of the sport. It's what makes it go 'round for us. Without it, we wouldn't get a chance to go racing.
I'm excited to work with the people at Go Daddy. A lot of cool minds in there and creative people. It's not a lot of pressure, it's just a really cool opportunity.
Q: Michael, considering the new cars and engines are at least expected to level the playing field early on, how confident are you that your team can be contenders out of the gate?
MICHAEL ANDRETTI: I feel very good about it. I think that's a start. You've got to have good drivers, ones capable of winning. I think we put together a really strong driver lineup. I'm really excited about that. Really excited about the way things have been going with Chevrolet. We have a lot of programs in place with the team that we're doing.
I can tell you the excitement on the floor in our shop, in the engineering room, is quite high. So we have high expectations for coming out strong right away.
Q: Michael, this is a little bit off topic, but can you talk about Marco, his expectations for the coming year? Also if you can intertwine how he handled the terrible tragedy with Dan Wheldon.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI: I have high expectations for him this year. I think he's going to do well. I think he really learned a lot last year just about his own driving and things. I was really happy with the way he came on in the end, especially in Japan, on the road course. I think he's going to be strong.
I know he's really excited about this year. I know he's excited about his teammates. Everything is just all very positive on that end.
He went through a tough time. I think it's a part of growing up. He lost somebody that was close to him. It's really the first time he has experienced that. So it was a tough, tough time for him, as it was for everybody else. Since it was sort of his first time in that way, it might have been a little tougher than some of the others.
But he's fine. He handled it fine. He'll go on and he'll learn that it is one of life's cruel things that you have to deal with sometimes. He'll be all right.
Q: James, looking at this year's calendar, which tracks do you feel to be your strongest and give you your best opportunity to challenge for your first win?
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: Wow, good question. I've always run well at Long Beach. I really enjoy that track. It seems to have treated me pretty well over the years. Certainly looking back at Andretti's performance there the last couple years, they've got a good knowledge of that place and they know how to win there as well. I'd say that's certainly one I'm looking to perform well at. Not that I'm not looking to perform well at all of them.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI: Better answer.
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: Sorry, boss (laughter).
On top of that, Mid-Ohio has been a good track for me. I like the track at Iowa. You saw Andretti perform well there last year as well. There's a couple that stand out.
At the end of the day, we're going to show up at every racetrack no matter what style it is or weekend it is and we're going to be going for the win.
Q: You visited the McLaren Formula 1 team in the off-season. Do you see that as a potential avenue in the future?
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE: It's not really a goal at this point, no. I love IndyCar racing. I grew up with it. It really is where my heart is. It's where my life is now. I got the opportunity to go over there and see the McLaren factory. It was an incredibly impressive facility. At the end of the day, IndyCar is in my blood. I'm very happy. I don't see that happening any time in the future.
Q: Michael, with James' rise up through the IndyCar ladder system, what are your possible plans to utilize James to replicate with your existing drivers with the Road to Indy and have them move on up and have the same fast rise that James has had.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI: That's a goal. I firmly believe in the Road to Indy, the platform. We have a team in every ladder of the system. I believe in it. I think we have a couple real stars in it right now. The ones who are standing out the most at the moment are Sage Karam and Zach Veach. I think those two are headed for IndyCar, the big cars, in two to four years I'd say, depending how they do in the rest of the steps.
So, yeah, I think it's great to have James in it from that standpoint, as well, that he is a graduate of [Star] Mazda and Indy Lights.