INDYCAR: Changes coming for Marco?

Changes could be on the horizon for Marco Andretti within the Andretti Autosport camp. The third-generation driver is scheduled to make his 181st IndyCar start on Sunday, and with only two wins to his credit and mounting frustration from one of his worst seasons to date, his father Michael and co-team owner Bryan Herta have discussed shifting the 29-year-old toward Herta's care.

The junior Andretti and Herta built a strong bond and working relationship in 2006 – Bryan's final season in IndyCar with the Andretti Green Racing team, and Marco's first in the series with AGR – and in light of his son's downward spiral in the No. 27 Honda, Michael says a change of scenery could be the best solution.

Related Stories

"Yes," the elder Andretti told RACER. "It's all one family, and it's possibly Bryan could be on someone else's car. That's a possibility. Him and Marco get along really well. Bryan's got Marco's respect and [Bryan's] already trying to work with him and help him."

Herta currently oversees Alexander Rossi's No. 98 Andretti Herta Autosport entry that won the 100th Indy 500 in May. Although it's unclear whether Herta would simply move over to Andretti's No. 27 timing stand, or if Andretti would work with the entire team behind the No. 98 program, Michael expects some form of modification to his son's current routine.

"It's a tough time for Marco; once he breaks out of it, he'll be much stronger. He's got to get this pressure off his shoulders that he's putting on himself. It's a spiral and he just needs to stick to the basics of driving. He should have eight wins, probably, and only has two, but it's not all his fault, but it eats at you. Then you try too hard and it gets worse. I hope he gets out of it soon."

Michael also sees the value in moving off of Marco's timing stand to improve Andretti Autosport's interests in multiple series.

"It's possible Bryan could be calling Marco's races," he said. "I personally want to get off the radio because it ties me too much to IndyCar races. We've got our [Global RallyCross] team and our Formula E team and all kinds of things going on, and there have been times where sponsors in other series wanted me to be there with them on a weekend where we also had an IndyCar race. If I'm not tied to Marco's car, then that becomes possible."

Marco Andretti's last win came in 2011 at Iowa, his best finish in 2016 is ninth at Detroit 2, and he presently holds 17th in the Drivers' championship.