The Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team will have the rare opportunity to race on home soil this weekend as Red Bull Global Rallycross makes its first visit to Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Raceway. In Sunday’s race, the team will aim to start the second half of the 2017 season on a strong note, continuing its 2017 podium streak and increasing leads in the Driver’s and Manufacturer’s Championships.
After a pair of podium finishes in Ottawa, Tanner Foust claimed the lead in the Driver’s Championship for the first time this season. The driver of the No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle GRC enters the seventh race of the season 27 points clear of his nearest rival, and with a win in Ottawa’s Race 2, as the winningest driver in series history with 13 overall victories.
“We’re entering the Indy race on a good run here, so I’m hoping we can keep that momentum going,” said Foust. “This is an important stretch for the championship and I know the whole team will really be pulling hard to set us up well for the final stages of the season.”
Reigning champion Scott Speed had a more difficult weekend in Ottawa than his teammate, being unable to start the first race of the doubleheader weekend. The driver of the No. 41 Oberto Circle K Beetle GRC fell back from his perch atop the championship standings, but began a comeback by qualifying quickest and earning a close second-place finish in Race 2 in Ottawa.
“We find ourselves in a bit of a hole again as it comes to the championship, but we’ve come back from a deficit like this before,” said Speed. “We know our car is quick, so the key will be to minimizing mistakes from here on out so we can start seeing the results we are hoping for. The Andretti team has a pretty good track record racing here in Indianapolis, so we’re looking to continue that trend.”
The Indianapolis race will air LIVE on NBCSN at 8pm ET on Sunday, July 9.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state -of-the- art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Atlas, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
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This press release and images of the Beetle GRC and the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross drivers are available at media.vw.com. Follow us @VWNews
About Andretti Autosport
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series and Indy Lights, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship (2013) and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the famed Indianapolis 500 five times (2005, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2017). Additionally the team holds two X Games Gold Medals and two Global Rallycross championship (2015, 2016). To share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.com and follow along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti.