Andretti hopes for repeat performance at Iowa Speedway

NEWTON - Marco Andretti put the brakes on a winless streak last year at Iowa Speedway.

The 25-year-old race car driver would like to speed to his first win since snapping almost five-year stretch without a victory in 2011.

Andretti goes for a second straight win at the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 Saturday at Iowa Speedway, beginning at 9 p.m. The race weekend kicks off Friday with practice throughout the day and qualifying heat races, starting at 6:15 p.m.

"I needed that more than anything last year," Andretti said in a news conference during test day last week at Iowa Speedway. "It's shaping up pretty much the same as last year where we need this thing again. I'm not liking these droughts I can tell you that."

Andretti is 18th in the overall points standings without earning a top-10 finish in eight starts. His best finish this season has been 11th at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on June 3.

Andretti, who led a race high 59 laps before placing 24th at the Indianapolis 500, has raced well on this short oval. Does he like the outlook of lightning striking twice?

"Our chances are better than lightning strikes, for sure," Andretti said. "We always run good here. Hopefully that's the case."

Andretti Autosport, owned by racing legend and Marco's father, Michael Andretti, has presented a challenge to the dominant Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi teams. Driver James Hinchcliffe is second in points with Ryan Hunter-Reay fourth after his win last week at Milwaukee IndyFest. They have thrived despite some struggles from Marco Andretti.

“Marco's frustrated, and it's tough when you see your teammates having the results, but he's hanging in there,” Michael Andretti told the Associated Press in a story posted at Washington Post website. “He's had the bad luck for the entire team, and he's trying to shake that. He had a great test at Iowa, and we're all looking forward to going there.

“I'm really pleased with where the team is right now. All three guys are really working well together.”

Andretti is a name synonymous with IndyCar success and that has certainly been the case in Iowa. The team has produced three of the first five Iowa Corn 250 champions - Dario Franchitti in 2007, Tony Kanaan in 2010 and Marco Andretti last year.

The team has helped put driver's in position to perform once they arrive at the track. It makes test sessions, like last week, more crucial.

"We have a good roll-off setup. I think we roll off pretty close," Andretti said. "That's the key to most weekends, isn't it? With limited practice, just roll off in the ballpark and all your other little tweaks are what put you ahead."

Personally, Marco Andretti has been one of the top drivers in the five-year history of this event. Andretti became the only driver to grace each step of the awards podium, placing second in 2008 and third in 2009.

He praised the grip on the track and did not mind the difference in the infamous bump between Turns 1 and 2. It is not surprising optimism accompanies trips to Iowa Speedway.

"It's always great to come back to Iowa," said Andretti, who started 17th in last year's race. "I definitely enjoy the track. It's definitely a driver's track. It's a lot of fun."