I won’t be in Indianapolis until tomorrow evening but agriculture was on display today. The fastest rookie was honored by the American Dairy Association of Indiana. He’s Marco Andretti and he’s award winner number 32. I thought it was interesting that they pointed out that although ethanol has been getting a lot of attention they were the first ag commodity associated with the race.

In accepting the honor, Marco will join his father, 1984 Fastest Rookie Michael Andretti, to form the first father-son duo in the award’s history. In fact, had the program been around in 1965, the Andretti family would be celebrating a three-generation sweep. Marco’s grandfather, the great Mario Andretti, was the fastest rookie qualifier in 1965, his freshman year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


Marco, driver of the No. 26 NYSE Group Andretti Green Racing Dallara/Honda, secured the honor when he qualified on Saturday, May 20 at a four-lap average speed of 224.918 mph. He will start Sunday’s race from the outside of Row Three.

The 19-year old native of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 cash award and a plaque, and his name will be engraved on the American Dairy Association’s Fastest Rookie trophy on permanent display at the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum. The by-invitation-only event, scheduled for The Pavilion at Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort & Inn, will be attended by an estimated 300 representatives of the nation’s dairy industry, members of the racing fraternity, and local, national and international media.