Nazareth area residents watching the Indianapolis 500 Sunday were hoping Marco Andretti would lead his family in bidding farewell to the 'Andretti Curse.'
Nazareth area residents watching today's Indianapolis 500 were hoping Marco Andretti would lead his family in bidding farewell to the “Andretti Curse.”
And while the grandson of a local racing legend took the lead several times during the race, Andretti finished fourth in the 97th running of the Indy 500. The Andretti family hasn't captured the famed Memorial Day weekend race since Mario Andretti won in 1969.
“I thought Marco ran a great race,” said Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye Jr., who was at The Brickyard today for a front-row seat. “It’s a shame that unfortunately, our man didn’t do it. But it was a good, competitive race, a lot more competitive than before.”
A few spectators at Devery's Pub & Grill in Stockertown also were rooting for Marco.
“I think he’s going to come in the top three, he’s been in the top three the whole time,” Gino Andrews of Stockertown said before the final lap. “I wish they would bring back the Nazareth Speedway. It’s such a shame.”
Colton Kast, who was tending bar at the pub and lives on Rose Inn Avenue in Bushkill Township -- the same street where Marco and Mario Andretti live -- said there is a sense of pride in Nazareth when watching the hometown hero.
“I hope he wins,” Kast said.
Father Michael Andretti has been to victory lane twice as a team owner with the late Dan Wheldon in 2005 and Dario Franchitti in 2007, but never won the race as a driver.
Marco Andretti finished second in 2006 in the second-closest finish in the race's history.
Sitting on the pit road after the race, grandfather Mario pooh-poohed the curse notion.
“No, but what can you say? The kid can’t catch a break,” the legendary driver said. “Today it was gonna be a helluva last couple laps. But fate has to go your way a little bit too."
Tony Kanaan captured today's Indianapolis 500, driving past Ryan Hunter-Reay on a restart with three laps to go, then coasting across the finish line under yellow when defending winner Dario Franchitti crashed far back in the field.
The Brazilian had led 221 laps coming into the race, more than any other non-winner besides Michael Andretti and Rex Mays, yet had never taken the checkered flag. He finished second in 2004 and twice finished third.
Kanaan and Andretti had charged to the front during a wild first half of the race.Kanaan quickly moved through the field from the outside of the fourth row while Andretti started on the outside of the front row and spent the first 29 laps playing leapfrog with Kanaan.
The Associated Press and The Express-Times' Chuck Givler contributed to this report.