ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Third-generation IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti, the son of Michael Andretti and grandson of Mario Andretti, will demonstrate his driving talents inside the PPL Center on Jan. 4 when he shakes down a TQ midget.
Andretti, a 14-time Indianapolis 500 qualifier, will sign autographs for fans during the on track Fan Fest between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., followed by some hot laps around the arena floor speedway prior to the start of the racing program at 7 p.m.
Those with free Fan Fest tickets will be allowed on to the racing floor of the arena to get a close up look at all the race cars competing that night as well as collect autographs.
These free Fan Fest tickets are available by clicking the “Fan Fest Option” when ordering tickets online or when purchasing them at the box office.
Andretti drove friend Kyle Lick’s TQ Midget for the first time two years ago inside the PPL Center and impressed onlookers. He’ll be back behind the wheel of Lick’s No. 8 on Saturday, prior to Lick driving it in the competitive program that will follow.
“I didn’t know what to expect but the car was very comfortable once I got it up to speed,” Andretti remarked after the Jan. 5, 2018 test. “I’d like to drive in one of these races, but I have contracts that don’t allow me to do that.”
Andretti noted at the time that the power-to-weight ratio of a TQ to an Indy car is approximately the same.
Andretti is a veteran of 14 Indianapolis 500s, with his best finish coming in his rookie year of 2006, when he was second to Sam Hornish Jr. He was third in 2008, 2010 and 2014.
Marco has two career NTT IndyCar Series victories, first at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in 2006 and again at Iowa Speedway in 2011.
TQ midget racing and Indoor Auto Racing competition are nothing new to the Andretti family. Marco’s grandfather Mario won a TQ event inside New Jersey’s Teaneck Armory in 1962. He also won in the TQ Midgets outdoors at New Jersey’s Pine Brook Stadium before embarking on his legendary, internationally-known Hall of Fame career.
Marco began racing in go-karts at the former Flemington (N.J.) Speedway, on an infield road course. He quickly advanced to become the youngest-ever Indy car driver (at that time) at the age of 19, as a teammate to his father Michael.
The Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP Race Fuels opens its 2020 season Friday and Saturday inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, Pa.