John: Hey Dave!
Dave: How you doing buddy?
John: Doing OK.
Dave: Heading to soccer practice are you?
John: Picking Jarrett up from soccer practice, he seems to have it all of the time. Matter of fact he is going to move up, he is in the Challenge League right now and he is going to I think Classic.
Dave: Ah, good for you.
John: Good for him. He doesn’t get it from me!
Dave: Well your dad was born in Italy, right?
John: Yea, but I don’t think that is where he got it. We are all towed-out a little bit when we walk, so I have no idea where Jarrett got it from. He has been a cat ever since he was born. Throw him up in the air and he always lands on his feet. (laughing)
Dave: So all the Andretti’s are towed out? (laughing) So everyone is talking about Dario Frainchitti being injured and unable to run in this years 500. Of course that leaves your cousin with an open seat with his team, any chance of you taking that spot?
John: I talked to Michael a few times and quite honestly I think there is some opportunity, but I am not sure how big that opportunity is. I know that if everything works out that would be both of our choice, but I would give anything to do it. Some things are not always in your own hands, your own control, so hopefully something will work out in that direction. That would be an unbelievable opportunity for me and what a great deal. I always wanted to be his team mate. We have raced a few times as team mates and that has been a lot of fun. But to be with his team… I can hear him, "You don’t need another set of tires John" (laughing)
Dave: Yea, why don’t you go ahead and pit, and don’t take any tires!
John: Or you get the scuffed tires today John. I would do anything I tell you. He has such a good team, but who knows if the cards fall in that direction that will be GREAT, if not I will just cry.
Joe: Does General Mills have any say in that?
John: They have some input, on me attending the Indy 500 and I think they would like to participate on some level. I don’t know what it would be right now since it is so late, that it would be a more of a we are partners with them more than anything else. I think the real motivation for them is trying to build for next year.
Dave: Well that would be pretty neat, we were really looking forward to seeing you this year, but if we have to wait another year, we will wait another year.
John: Yea I know, I mean right now I hate it for Dario, but if it works out for me he would be my best friend. (laughing) I may not be his, but he would be mine! Of course he is married to Ashley Judd so……
Joe: Life is not too bad for him.
John: I think Ashley bought him a helicopter for his birthday.
Dave: Yea he was flying it back and forth when we were at Miami Homestead, he parked it outside of turn 2.
Joe: A helicopter?
John: Yea because when they announced that on I don’t know what show they said it on, but I looked at Nancy and I was like, what about me?
Dave: (laughing) no kidding!
John: She looked at me and said, yea it is probably used.
Dave: It was pretty shiny when I saw it. I do not know what kind it is.
Joe: Is this like seats a few people or is this like a little ultra light kind of deal?
John: I don’t want to know, I think it is ultra light and used (laughing).
Dave: That is the whole thing, if you take Dario’s seat that would make up for the disappointment of not seeing Ashley Judd walking around the garage area. (laughing)
John: Telling you, being in the seat of that car would be way better than me meeting Ashley. I think she is a great actress, but there is nothing like driving in the Indy 500.
Joe: And you were the first guy to do the back to back, so that would be something. Kind of like Jordan playing at 40 or something.
Matt: GIVE ME A BREAK!
Joe: No I am serious, John was the first guy to do it and now you get all these young guys trying to do it and now the John the Master of the Double comes back. I think it would be cool!
John: I would LOVE it! I cannot say enough about how excited I would be about doing it. It is like this is the beginning of my racing career and I am looking for that big break. If it comes it comes and it would be GREAT, but that is all I can say.
Dave: Lets Hope. Now where do you run this weekend?
John: We are out in Fontana California.
Dave: Do you like that race track?
John: I do it is like a flatter Michigan, two miles in length. It is a lot of fun to race at, you have a high and low groove going.
Dave: I tell you the month of May fever is starting to pick up here in Indiana. The rookie orientation has come and gone. They had practice for the Infinity Pro-series car…. you have to get back here John.
John: I know when I come there in August it is so great to be there. I told my crew chief the other day that if we ran at Indy that would be OK with me.
Dave: That would so cool on race morning to see you and Michael walking out together. Because I remember that one year 92, it was you, Jeff, Michael, and Mario. And you all waited and walked out together.
John: It is a big event. It is funny you do not thing about it when it is all happening. When I did the double it was not something I did for the reasons…. I mean you see the picture of us walking out together you would not think that would have been the last time we got to walk out there as a group of four. You think there is this year and the year after, so you kind of discount it. Then you start getting pictures in your fan mail and you start signing them and you see Michael and Mario have signed it too, you realize it was a pretty significant moment.
Dave: It was a heck of a deal. Good luck to you, hey did you enjoy your weekend off?
John: I did, I did not get much done because it rained here a lot. I don’t know it is not supposed to rain here that much.
Dave: It is pretty green in North Carolina.
John: I tell you it is right now, I tell you that. Last year we were in a drought, this year we are in a flood. It cannot make up it’s mind, it is kind of like being in Indianapolis. Wait a little bit and it changes!
Joe: Hey John what kind of candy did you get from the Easter bunny?
John: I get bubble gum eggs.
Joe: Bubble gum eggs?
John: yea, they are almost like small jaw breaker size eggs and they are different colors…. And have a bunch of sugar in them.
Joe: Like everything, are you a Peep guy? Do you like the little chicks and bunny Peeps?
John: No I do not like them, but my little girl carries them around and you have to explain to her that you have to eat something good first. She thinks it is just like the chicken we eat out on the grill. (laughing)
Dave: Look Daddy, I am eating chicken. It is blue meat, I did not know there was a chicken with blue meat… (laughing) Well good luck buddy I hope we will hear a good announcement about you and the Indy 500 soon.
John: Me too! Thanks guys, talk to you next week!
THE END