Marco Andretti tries to avoid another close shave at Texas Motor Speedway

[AGRfan26]

By RAY BUCK [e-mail]

The Andretti name opens a lot of garage doors.

The latest benefactor is 22-year-old Marco Andretti, carrying the family baton now in his fourth year of IndyCar Racing.

Marco brings to open-wheel racing a familiar name and a fresh face ... uh, a Gillette Fusion-smooth face, if you believe the latest TV commercials in which he appears.

The 30-second spot was originally produced for Russian and Canadian market distribution, but has since taken a circuitous route back to the U.S.

"When I’m at my best, I win at every level," Marco tells TV viewers. "Fresh blade, better shave."

Well, almost Marco. The voiceover is dubbed.

"It’s not really my voice," explained the grandson of Mario and the son of Michael. "I didn’t do a voiceover [when the commercial was shot] because Gillette wasn’t going to show it in the States ... but then, they ended up showing it in the States."

Whether Marco is shown inside his No. 26 race car or hoisting hardware on victory lane or standing in front of the bathroom mirror, the voiceover is extremely cheery and enthusiastic.

"The guy overacted it, I think," Marco quipped.

Racing’s latest Andretti will be making his fourth start at Texas Motor Speedway in tonight’s Bombardier Learjet 550. Last year, he led 25 laps before wrecking into the wall with six laps to go when Ryan Hunter-Reay took himself and Marco out of the race.

"I’d say probably my most 'spectacular-looking’ crash came at ’07 Indy. I came away unscathed, I was lucky," Andretti said. "But the biggest impact I’ve ever felt was probably right here [at TMS] last year."

Young Andretti’s late-race lead a year ago (a race that finished under caution with Scott Dixon winning) gives him reason to feel he has a shot at winning in North Texas.

"We rolled off here with a race-winning type of car last year," Marco said. "Hopefully, we’ve improved on it ... and if we have, we’re going to be right there."

The Andretti name was part of open-wheel racing before we put a man on the moon.

Mario made his Formula One debut at the 1968 U.S. Grand Prix, and the Andretti name has been around ever since.

"The name has been magic," Marco said Friday. "I look at it as a total positive, because I have two of the best ever in the sport [Mario] in my corner rather than maybe having to go up against them."

Two weeks ago, the No. 26 car was ostensibly put out of the Indy 500 on the first turn of the first lap by Brazilian Mario Moraes.

"At the start, I was sitting outside [Moraes] and he completely just bumped into me," Andretti recalled. "That was the biggest disappointment ... [because] so much preparation goes into that event to throw it away on the first lap ... actually, the one corner."

On a different note, Marco also has had three top-10 finishes in five starts this year.

"There are big expectations for me, but I think I have big expectations for myself," Marco said. "So, really, I don’t go into a racing thinking I have to do this or that because my grandfather or my father did. I want to do it for me."

Best piece of advice received from Grandpa Mario?

"Trust your butt," Marco said. "Those three words help me in a lot of different ways. Don’t doubt yourself. And if the car is telling you something, believe it."

Best piece of advice from his dad, Michael?

"Patience," Marco said. "That’s saved me a bunch of times, especially on the ovals. You can’t drive past the limits of your race car, or else that’s a crash."

Marco Andretti has no aspiration to make the crossover to NASCAR.

"I never say never," he began. "But [NASCAR] is not that appealing to me. It’s not my style. Having said that, I have the utmost respect for those guys, but it’s a completely different beast."

If your name is Andretti, you drive a race car. But what if he had dared to do something else?

"Something in business," Marco said.

He likes doing TV commercials. Something is in the works now for him with Venom energy drink.

"I think the more exposure, the better," he said. "But that’s about it, as of now. I’m not Danica, yet."

Danica, of course, is Andretti Green Racing teammate Danica Patrick.

Tennis?

"I play," said the 5-foot-8, 138-pound Andretti. "I play with a lot of heart but not much game. I think you need both."

Movies?

"I’m not a good actor," Marco said. "I definitely should stick to my day job."

How about winning this race?

Tonight? Right here?

Never say never.

[Megan]

That was a great article!! Good luck Marco!!!!

[Lizzy]

Good luck Marco! We are rooting for ya bud!

[angelagreeneyes]

GOOD LUCK MARCO GO MARCO GO