Marco Andretti prepares for 17th Indianapolis 500

Speedway, Indiana — For, driving on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is like riding a bike.

The third-generation Andretti Autosport driver, Marco Andretti is preparing to run the 106th Indianapolis 500 as if he never skipped a beat.

“You can wake me up from my sleep and I’ll drive the Speedway. I love it here,” said Marco. “This is as cold as I’ve been and I don’t feel behind anyone or anything.”

He finished Monday’s practice with the eighth fastest and ran 77 laps with the eighth fastest time, despite starting the race in row 8.

Marco will surpass his father Michael’s 16 Indianapolis 500 starts, this year. Michael also returns as his son’s strategist for the big year. “It’s a no-brainer. He’s the best to do it honestly,” said Marco. “He’s a really good strategist. The two of us work a lot better now than when I was a rookie because, like dad, I didn’t know anything.”

Getting loud in the best way, the duo has always been “passionate” over the headset, “It’s different though because it didn’t affect us when I was a rookie, it affected everyone around us,” said Marco. “We’d be animated over the radio and go to dinner no problem. Other people would make mistakes because the energy is so high.”

“Now they laugh at us and smile because they know when we’re going at each other it’s because we want to win this race.”