Andretti Green Racing has announced that Marco Andretti will be the third driver of the XM Satellite Radio Acura at the season-opening American Le Mans Series event, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Andretti will join series regular Bryan Herta, and newcomer Christian Fittipaldi in piloting the Acura-powered machine.
Andretti, who was the 2006 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year and who became the youngest driver in history to win a major open-wheel race when he drove to victory at Infineon Raceway in August '06, has never competed in the American Le Mans Series before.
"I'm really looking forward to getting into the XM Satellite Radio Acura," said Marco, who will turn 21 on March 13. "I've had a chance to drive the car in a couple of tests and I've been very happy with it. The car has been really quick, fun to drive and has been incredibly durable."
In combining with Herta and Fittipaldi in the XM Acura, Andretti is jumping into a car that took the LMP2 class win at Sebring in 2007 in the first Series start for the team and Acura.
"I'm just excited to be driving with Bryan and Christian. What Bryan was able to do last year, in Acura's very first start, was amazing," added Marco. "I think I'll be able to contribute and, hopefully, run up front. My grandfather [Mario] has won three times at Sebring and I hope to add my name to that list."
Indeed, former
F1 world champion
Mario Andretti is a legend at Sebring having won half of his six starts. He won there for the first time in 1967, driving a Ford GT40 Mk IV with Bruce
McLaren as the duo became the first driver pairing to average more than 100 mph during the 12 Hours.
Andretti also won overall for
Ferrari in 1970 - a 22-second win over the Porsche 908 of actor Steve McQueen and Peter Revson - and again in 1972. He was the overall pole winner in each of his three winning seasons and was second overall in 1969.
![Marco Andretti. [Pic Credit Dana Garrett]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/174067.jpg)
