IndyCar: Andretti Autosport 'getting there' with Honda contract extension

Andretti Autosport are reportedly “getting there” as it pertains to extending their contract with Honda as their engine manufacturer for beyond the 2019 IndyCar season.

When Chevrolet reentered IndyCar ahead of the 2012 season, Andretti Autosport switched their engine manufacturer from Chevrolet to Honda.

Ryan Hunter-Reay won the 2012 championship driving the #28 Chevrolet for the team, and they had one of their best overall seasons in 2013, tying the series-high win total with five, but they ended up switching back to Honda ahead of the 2014 season.

Andretti Autosport were rumored to switch back to Chevrolet ahead of the 2018 season, as the 2017 season was a contract year for Honda.

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In fact, Takuma Sato, who has deep ties to Honda, even signed with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing before Andretti Autosport made their decision to avoid the hassle of potentially being left without a ride if they did decide to switch back to Chevrolet.

However, they decided to stick with Honda.

But with the 2019 season being another contract year for the Japanese manufacturer, there have been rumors that, once again, the four-car team may consider a switch back to Chevrolet.

However, according to team owner Michael Andretti, they are “getting there” as it pertains to extending their contract with Honda once again.

Here is what Andretti had to say about the matter, according to NBC Sports.

"“We’re getting there. There are a lot of important pieces we need to complete. Three or four things have to get done at once, and we’re working on it. I want to get this done sooner. We’re making headway. I hope to announce it soon. I’m not sure about dates yet. It feels good. It feels like we are in the right direction.”"

In the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Andretti Autosport earned nine victories with Chevrolet. From the 2014 season up until now, they have earned 16 victories, including seven since the UAK18 (Universal Aero Kit 2018) era began ahead of the 2018 season.

However, what Andretti Autosport did not do in 2012 or 2013 was win the Indianapolis 500. They came close in 2013 with a 2-3-4 finish with Carlos Munoz, Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti, respectively, but they could not pull it off.

Since switching back to Honda, they have won three Indy 500 races and come close to winning two others. Hunter-Reay won the race in 2014 when the team took four of the top six positions before Alexander Rossi won it in 2016 over Munoz in second place. Sato then won it in 2017. Rossi finished in team-highs of fourth in 2018 and second in 2019.

Andretti is now tied with Lou Moore for the second most owner victories in Indy 500 history. Only Roger Penske, whose 18 wins will be hard for anybody to ever match, has earned more.

Next. Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time. dark

Will Andretti Autosport stick with Honda for what would be their sixth consecutive season with IndyCar‘s longest tenured manufacturer, or will they switch back to Chevrolet ahead of the 2020 season?

IndyCar: Andretti Autosport ‘getting there’ with Honda contract extension

By Asher Fair | Jul 25, 2019

Andretti Autosport are reportedly “getting there” as it pertains to extending their contract with Honda as their engine manufacturer for beyond the 2019 IndyCar season.