IndyCar: Andretti Autosport downsizing in 2021
By Asher Fair
Andretti Autosport plan to run four full-time cars instead of five in the 2021 IndyCar season following Marco Andretti’s announcement.
Marco Andretti announced earlier today that he would not be competing full-time in 2021 IndyCar season, marking the first time since his career began in 2006 that he will not be a full-time driver.
He noted that he will remain involved in his #98 Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco Andretti & Curb-Agajanian Honda.
The 33-year-old Nazareth, Pennsylvania native has been a part-owner of the #98 Honda since the 2019 season.
However, that entry will not be a full-time entry.
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According to IndyStar, a team spokesman has confirmed that the team will only run four cars on a full-time basis in the 2021 season, despite initial plans of keeping five full-time entries. When they do run the fifth car, it will be Andretti behind the wheel of the #98 Honda.
There will not be a fifth full-time driver, amid speculation that Oliver Askew, who won the 2019 Indy Lights championship for the team and lost his ride with Arrow McLaren SP following the 2020 season, might take over.
Andretti has only confirmed that he plans to compete in the 105th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 30, although he has left the door open to competing in other races as well.
His streak of 248 consecutive starts was the second longest active streak behind Scott Dixon (260) and the third longest all-time behind Dixon and Tony Kanaan (318).
Andretti Autosport have confirmed just three of their full-time drivers for the 2021 season, most recently with the announcement that Ryan Hunter-Reay is set to return behind the wheel of the #28 Honda. Alexander Rossi is set to return behind the wheel of the #27 Honda, and Colton Herta is set to move from the #88 Honda to the #26 Honda.
It is expected that James Hinchcliffe will be the team’s fourth full-time driver. He competed part-time for the team in 2020 before taking over for Zach Veach behind the wheel of the #26 Honda with three races remaining.
Of course, “downsizing” is a relative term. With four full-time entries, Andretti Autosport will still be tied for the most full-time entries with Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing, who both plan to increase from three last year.
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The 2021 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway slightly over one month later than initially planned, as the initial season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida was pushed back from Sunday, March 7 to Sunday, April 25. As a result, the season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, April 11 at Barber Motorsports Park.