http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/
FROM KEITH GROLLER
In the first two official practices at Pocono for the IndyCar drivers, Andretti had the fastest times.
He registered a speed of 219.282 mph in the morning session and came back even faster in the afternoon with a time of 220.963.
"I think this just became my favorite race track," Andretti said. "It's so much fun. It's so different every lap. You don't know what to expect. You really have to be on our toes from end to end. It's going to produce a heck of a race. I was able to make some passes, and I'm really pleased with the car.
"I'm still not going to say I have this track figured out. I won't say it until we're in Victory Lane. Then, I'll have it figured out. We're closer than most right now, but there's still a long weekend ahead."
Second was this year's Indy 500 Tony Kanaan at 219.802 in the afternoon session with Helio Castroneves third at 219.123.
Marco, looking for his first win since 2011, totaled 122 laps overall. He had tested here twice previously.
Kanaan was also here last week.
"Obviously, we were here last week, so we came back with a solid setup," Kanaan said. "We used last week's test to change some big things, the things that take a long time to change. It was definitely helpful. I'm happy with the car off. We now have a day off, which is very unusual for a race weekend, but I am happy. It's going to be a close race. Everybody's running pretty close together, so we'll see."
Kanaan said it was unsual for him, having been in the USA for so long, to come to a racetrack where he had never run before.
"They don't this the 'Tricky Triangle' for nothing," he said. "I first took my rental car around here and I thought it wasn't that bad. Then I took my IndyCar and it was like 'OK.' It me a few laps to get some confidence and learn this track a little bit."\
Andretti, who complimented IndyCar and Firestone for providing the right aero specifications and tire choice, said the tricky part of the "Tricky Triangle" is finding a balance between the first and third turns.
"You can make the car good in one of the corners and hurt it in the other," he said. "That has been the difficulty. Nothing really jumps out, but that's the cool part about this place. The person who finds that balance at both ends is the one who is going to be rewarded."
Marco seems in position to be rewarded with the biggest win of his career. But there's a long way between Thursday and Sunday.
"When we put these things in traffic, it could be so different," he said. "Even if we have it mastered, there's a lot that has to go right [during the race] to be victorious. In the last three races, we've been very strong [in qualifying], and came up just short in the race. So, there's a lot of elements in this sport that have to go right. You never have it mastered."
Marco was also asked about what advice he might have received his famous grandfather, Mario Andretti, who won here in 1986 and participated in the last IndyCar race here in 1989.
"It's been awhile since they've been here and while a race car is a race car, things are a little different now," Marco said. "At this level of the sport, we have to go out and learn by fire and just by driving. He's there to bounce things off of, but he doesn't really dictate how we go. He has been supportive, but only if I'm the quickest."
Marco was smiling as he said that last line.
In terms of Wednesday's announcement that the race will start three-wide, Marco said: "That one's up to the fans. I'm all about tradition, so obviously I love it. My only hope is that the straightaway is long enough here so that we can get it all sorted out by Turn 1."
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