Photo Credit: Justin McFarland
With Snapple not set to return to IndyCar next year, Marco Andretti sent them out with a bang by scoring his best finish of the year.
The driver of the No.27 Snapple Honda, hasn’t had the greatest 2016 season. Coming into the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway he only has two top-10 finishes – Detroit and Toronto. The Nazareth, Pennsylvania native has had many issues with his qualifying this season and that hurt him during those races.
“It was a tough year for the Snapple team, I’m going to do whatever it takes to improve for next year – put in the time and whatever I need to,” Andretti said. “This ties for the worst year of my career, when it needed to be my best. “
The third-generation driver, attended a testing session at Sonoma Raceway back on September 8 along with the rest of the IndyCar drivers to prepare for this weekend. When the test was concluded, Andretti was second fastest. He took what he learned testing and carried it into this weekend and when his car was unloaded onto the track Andretti quickly showed he was fast. as he was second fastest in the first practice of the weekend. On Saturday, he ended up being the fastest in third practice for the race. He qualified 14th, which was one of his best starting positions of the season.
During the race, Andretti held his own and was consistent all day as he stayed in the top-10 mostly all race. He ended up finishing in eighth, which is his best finish all season.
Andretti is happy that the season is over and he can put it behind him and plans to start focusing on 2017. A few weeks ago, HHGreg was announced to be one of his primary co-sponsors on the No.27 entry and he is looking forward to working with them with a new look and fresh start.
“We’re definitely up against it for next year,” Andretti added. Thanks to Snapple, UFD and Mutual of Omaha for hanging in there with me this season. It’s a bit of a blessing after a nightmare year for hhgregg to come on (as co-primary sponsor) for two years (starting in 2017). I can now shift my focus on trying to fast and the season opener in St. Pete.”
