Andretti name back on top in IndyCar

Marco Andretti heard the critics. Those voices are little quieter now.

After a five-year absence from victory lane, Andretti won the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 Saturday night at Iowa Speedway. It was just the second career win for Andretti, the last in 2006 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The finish came with a satisfying feeling of relief the drought was over and optimism of future wins.

"I'm going to be looking to make a habit of this, that's for sure," said Andretti, 24, whose previous win was at age 19. "You know, it definitely gets the monkey off our back a bit because, you know, we can quiet a lot of my doubters at the same time. It feels so good."

Andretti started 17th and maneuvered his way among the leaders. His first win in 78 races was a product of his ability and the resolve of a team that worked together and made great adjustments throughout the weekend. Andretti's father and team owner, Michael Andretti, said he was proud of everyone's effort in Andretti Motorsports.

"It was a big win for us for sure," Michael Andretti said. "I think a lot of people were really pounding on us and thought we were down and out, but I can tell you this team has got tons of fight in it, and we are never out."

Andretti locked into a couple battles in the last 100 laps, fighting a couple of former Iowa Corn 250 winners. First, he contended for the lead with Dario Franchitti, the points leader who won here in 2007 and 2009.

Andretti exchanged leads with Franchitti, beating him out of a pit stop during the final of five cautions that came when pole sitter Takuma Sato crashed on lap 185. Franchitti never regained the lead and 2010 winner Tony Kanaan rolled on the track in third, leading to a dash to the finish.

The pair exchanged leads four times in 29 laps with Andretti taking the lead for good just inside 20 laps to go.

"I mean, it was fun racing," Andretti said. "You know, it's always nice at the front. You know you can always trust those guys. It was close, it was dicey, but that's what the fans want.

"We had a packed house tonight. It was good to see. I'm glad we could put on a bit of a show anyway."

The victory returns one of the top names of IndyCar racing to the forefront. Andretti also is the grandson of Mario Andretti, who along with Michael Andretti, is among the all-time IndyCar greats.

"Well, it's important for us, I know that," Michael Andretti said.