Another Canadian victory in store for Andretti?

Michael Andretti and Team Motorola are eager to return to Canada after their earlier successful venture over the border to Toronto in July where they captured their first Champ Car victory as a team. "I've been fortunate to win some races in Vancouver", said Andretti. "Now hopefully we're going to duplicate our July results and get our second victory in Canada."

Team Motorola has returned to their podium ways after finishing in second place at the Motorola 220 at Road America on August 19. General manager Kim Green feels the team is headed in the right direction and past success in Vancouver should keep them on track. "Team Green has always had very good technical set-ups in Vancouver," said Green. "Michael's technical partners, Franchitti and Tracy, have done well in the past so I think we will be able to give Michael a good base-line to start the weekend."

Andretti has started each of the Molson Indy Vancouver races in the top-eight and captured the pole in 1990, 1991 and 1992. "The track has gotten better over the last few years and hey, it's another Canadian race which is great for me," said Andretti. "They've widened the track, although it's still a little tight, but it's still a good race and I'm looking forward to being back in Vancouver."

Andretti has also won three times in Vancouver, 1991, 1992 and 1996. Add those to the seven races Andretti has won in Toronto and Canadian race wins account for 25% of Andretti's total career victories. "I don't know why I'm so successful in Canada, but I'm not complaining," explained Andretti when asked about his success. "Vancouver is definitely one of the highlights of the season and the race is promoted so well, the city is really behind the event just like in Toronto."

Sunday's Molson Indy Vancouver will be Michael Andretti's 284th start of his career and his 11th at Vancouver. In 2000 Andretti started eighth and finished twelfth at Vancouver for Newman-Haas Racing. Andretti won July 15th in Toronto capturing his 41st career victory, the most of active Champ Car drivers and his tenth career victory on Canadian soil. Andretti and Team Motorola are currently in fourth place in the CART FedEx Championship with 89 points.

"We're solidly back in championship contention," said general manager Kim Green. "I think the team that makes the least amount of mistakes between now and the end of the season will win the championship and we'd like that team to be Motorola."