Marco Andretti may be entering his rookie season in the IRL IndyCar Series with three team-mates capable of winning the series title, but he plans to join them soon - and wants to be winning races this year. source: crash.net The third generation driver from one of racing's most storied families, Andretti steps into the seat vacated by 2005 series champion Dan Wheldon, and will be supported by essentially the same crew which backed the #26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam car, even though he won't be able to run the colours made famous by his British forebear. Instead, Andretti, son of team owner Michael, will run the ArcaEx livery formerly carried by Dario Franchitti, who steps into the unfamiliar red hues cast off by countryman Wheldon on his move to rival Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Despite only having limited testing experience in an Indycar, and only a part-season in the Indy Pro Series feeder category in 2005, Andretti showed his potential by winning three times, dominating the IPS road course events, and finishing in the top three on five occasions. A rookie he may be, but Andretti shows all the hallmarks of wanting to accelerate his reputation this season. "Everyone asks what my goals are for my rookie season in the IndyCar Series, and one is to win a race," he said confidently, "I think that's a realistic goal, to be honest. "For the first couple of races, I want to be in the top ten, but I don't want to be knocking on the door of the top ten and every so often be there. I want to be up with those guys week in and week out, knowing that, if they slip, I can move past and get closer to the front." Even though he knows the risk of taking on a largely untried rookie, team co-owner Kim Green sees no reason why Andretti can't live up to his own lofty ambitions. "It is exciting to see another Andretti in the IndyCar Series - Marco brings an unbelievable family legacy with him," Green said, "Thus far in pre-season testing, he has handled the pressure of the situation very, very well. "He couldn't ask for better introduction into the IndyCar Series racing than he has had, not only with the crew and engineers he's working with, but also his three team-mates, who have been very open with information, and who want to help Marco make the transition into IndyCar racing successfully."
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