Andretti-Petty combo helping Indy’s rebounding profile

Steve Sampsell

Without a points-paying race on the Sprint Cup Series schedule, a second-tier driver and a regularly winless team owner seem poised to get more attention than any of their counterparts this weekend.

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They’ll gobble up attention for something that has nothing to do with NASCAR, too.

While the Sprint All-Star Race should be the weekend’s most watched race, driver John Andretti and team owner Richard Petty have their sights set on qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Andretti briefly had the speed to make the field last week, but his last qualifying attempt Sunday found him just off the pace before losing control of the blue-and-red No. 43 and hitting the wall.

While it’s hard to imagine Andretti not making the field (he’s off the pace as a contender but not as a “field filler”), his family name and the presence of a team associated with Petty at the Indy 500 instantly combine for media attention. And, this weekend, when they’re filling starting spots 23 to 33, the storyline ranks as one of the more compelling options available to a general audience.

Still, both the Indy 500 and Sprint All-Star Race feature many drivers and owners worthy of interest. Here are three that make my list:

• Bobby Rahal — After missing the first three races of the IndyCar season, Rahal’s team, Rahal Letterman Racing, returns just in time for the Indy 500 thanks to a one-race sponsorship deal with a company that provides security against cyber terrorism and counterfeiting. He also signed veteran driver Oriol Servia, who started 25th and finished 11th in his first 500 start last year.

Rahal has won the 500 as both a driver (1986) and owner (2004), and his son Graham races in the series for another team. At a time when the race seems as healthy as it’s been in years — the final day of qualifying actually might be a true “bump day” because more than enough cars plan to qualify for the remaining spots in the race — the presence of the elder Rahal makes it seem even healthier. In addition, neither he nor Servia expect to make the race only as a back marker, and if they’re somehow competitive that would be even better.

• Jeremy Mayfield — Cup Series owner/driver Mayfield was suspended last week for a violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. A week later, nobody knows the exact substance and his wife, Shana, has been named owner so the team, which tabbed J.J. Yeley as the interim driver for the No. 41 Toyota, can compete this weekend.

While Mayfield maintains his positive test was a result of an over-the-counter drug for allergies and a prescribed drug, NASCAR’s testing program director, Dr. David Black, said that was unlikely and cited the substance as a “drug of concern.”

Mayfield’s biggest concern now centers on getting back to the track. He was at the team shop every day this week, but until the suspension gets resolved he’ll be unable to attend races. That’s a big hit after his startup operation began the season so well, making the Daytona 500. Also, how the team performs the next couple of weeks might determine if it can maintain sponsorships and exist the rest of this season and beyond.

• Tony Stewart — In his first season as a Cup Series owner/driver, Stewart has made the job look easy. He’s second in the standings and teammate Ryan Newman sits eighth. While compiling eight top-10 finishes in 11 races, Stewart has been quietly consistent — no major outbursts on or off the track.

Maybe this weekend that changes, though, because a DNF would not hurt the team in the standings and a victory in the big-money, made-for-TV race would bring a nice payday.

“It’s an event for the fans and that’s something that’s very important to us, but there’s a lot of bragging rights too. Charlotte is an area where 95 percent of the Cup teams are based, so when you go there, you want to run well,” Stewart said. “You’re able to have guys come from the shop that don’t get a chance to travel. They don’t get a chance to come to the racetrack very often and see the fruits of their labor, so for them to come to the All-Star Race and see their cars run, especially when you have a good night, it really pumps up your organization.”

As usual, NASCAR has tweaked the format for the race, but drivers such as Stewart do not care.

“I’m sure it won’t be hard to figure out. I know that it’s a no-holds-barred 100 laps and you could swear that we’re short track racing on a big mile-and-a-half track,” Stewart said. “Nobody’s worried about how many points you’re going to get and this and that. Guys take chances they don’t normally take.”

Steve Sampsell writes about auto racing for the Centre Daily Times. He may be reached at cdtrace@hotmail.com with comments, results and story ideas.