"Biggest Hit" Award For Legge
Champ Car World Series driver Katherine Legge was honored last night at the inaugural SPEED Performance Awards. Legge won the award for Biggest Hit of 2007 for her spectacular crash, from which she walked away unscathed, during the Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America at Elkhart Lake last September. Legge, who tested the Dale Coyne Panoz DP01 car at the Sebring open test in January, was on hand to receive her award, even if it was an honor any race car driver would rather do without.
“I'm glad I am still here to accept this award, it was a pretty serious deal but the Champ Car Safety Team was right there on the spot and did a great job of taking care of me,” said the 26-year-old Brit, after being presented the award by Grey’s Anatomy star and budding sportscar driver Patrick Dempsey. “Hopefully I won't be back to win this again next year!"
Up next for Legge and the rest of the Champ Car field will be the much-awaited MSR Houston open test which takes place February 12 -13. This second open test of the season will mark the first time that drivers and teams will have the chance to test the new standing-start procedure that will be used throughout the season at events where they can be accommodated in a safe manner.
Michael Andretti Will Race Indy Again
Michael Andretti knew he couldn't leave the driver's seat at the Indianapolis 500. Not after last year.
Andretti finished third in 2006 Indianapolis 500, watching his son Marco place second by a few feet to winner Sam Hornish Jr. Michael Andretti led Laps 194-197 of the 200-lap race, falling just short of his long-sought first victory at Indianapolis.
So there was little doubt in Andretti's mind that he would return to Indy this May for his 16th career start in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Andretti made it official Feb. 13 by announcing his plans to drive in the 91st Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27 in a Dallara/Honda/Firestone fielded by Andretti Green Racing, which he co-owns, and sponsored by Jim Beam and other backers to be named later.
"Last year when I returned, at first it was all about getting to race with Marco," Andretti said. "Then, we both had a shot at winning it, and I knew it would be very tough for me to walk away knowing that I'm still very capable of winning that race."
Andretti is one of five AGR drivers expected to race for victory at Indianapolis, joining IndyCar Series regulars Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick in the team's lineup.
"I'm obviously very excited to know that I'm going to have another chance to win the Indianapolis 500," Andretti said. "Jim Beam played a big role in getting me back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year, and I'm really excited to be working with them again in 2007."
Andretti qualified 13th in a Jim Beam/Vonage-sponsored Dallara/Honda/Firestone last year at Indy, his first start in the race since 2003. He steadily worked his way to the lead with seven laps remaining. But Andretti yielded the lead to his son in Turn 1 on Lap 197 before finishing third. It was Michael Andretti's best finish at Indianapolis since placing third in 2001.
Andretti, 44, from Nazareth, Pa., is one of the top drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. He has recorded nine top-10 finishes in 15 starts, with a career best of second in 1991. Andretti also has qualified nine times in the top 10 at Indy. He has led 430 laps, 10th all time among Indy 500 starters and first among drivers without an Indy 500 victory. Andretti has led at least one lap in eight of his 15 starts. Andretti also is eighth all time in Indy 500 career earnings, at $3,592,378.
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