rpm.espn.com: Users respond to Andretti's return

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Wednesday, March 28

Users respond to Andretti's return
ESPN.com

For the first time since the IRL/CART split in 1995, Michael Andretti will compete in the Indianapolis 500. Andretti, CART's all-time leading winner, is the son of Mario, who won the big event in 1969. Michael, however, is still searching for his first trip to Victory Lane at the Brickyard.

Claiming he has unfinished business to attend to at Indy, Andretti officially announced his plans to run this year's event at a news conference Tuesday.

RPM.ESPN.com asked you for your opinions. Check out what these race fans had to say.

I think Michael's return to the Indy 500 is great for the fans, but I think it's bad for CART. Tony George is getting his way without having to do anything in return. The more CART teams that compete, the more the IRL gets publicity. CART made the Indy 500 the crown jewel, not USAC, the IRL or Tony George.

Jim Doyle
Hoboken, N.J.

I don't really see it as big deal. Since the inception of the IRL and the success of NASCAR in the '90s, the Indy 500 has lost it's appeal to a lot of race fans.

David McGuire
Ann Arbor, Mich.

Indy will live on strong without Andretti. I think the media puts too much hype on it. The IRL has some great drivers and it is sad that it will all be over-shadowed by this. Also his comment that he could have kept Montoya honest just shows the mindset of the ego-maniac CART drivers. Andretti is not a shoo-in to even qualify. He needs to humble himself in order to get me to even be a little bit glad for him to be there. It just shows the CART mind set and sadly the media feeds into it.

Thomas A. Harleman
Indianapolis

I am so glad Michael is running in the Indy this year. My daughter and I watch racing all the time. For her college graduation gift this year, I am taking her to the Indy 500. This will be our first race in person. We can't wait! She found out that Michael is racing and called me so excited. Thanks Michael for making this a memorable event in our lives.We will be yelling for you to win. That would be the ultimate for you and us.

Bonnie Lynch
Westfield, Mass.

I think his return is great. Nothing makes the month of May complete like those famous words "Andretti is slowing down!"

A.J. Ule
Indianapolis

Welcome back, Mikey. What took you so long? Good thing the IRL has very open rules. Just get the equipment and show up.Yeah, your presence will add a little spark to the month of May. But have you thought about the possible consequences of your return? What if Buddy Lazier or Eddie Cheever or Sam Hornish or (this would be fun) Sarah Fisher beats you to the checkered flag? What will CART hang its hat on? May 27. I'll be there watching you put it all on the line. And that's how it should be.

Sven Christiansen
Indianapolis

I've got mixed emotions about Michael's return to Indy. On one hand, I'm glad that he's got an opportunity to win the biggest open-wheel race there is. He's been close on so many occassions and deserves to win it at least once. On the other hand, I wish his return could have been with all the CART drivers who were left out in the cold by Tony George. George's arrogance is the main reason why the split took place to begin with. I guess the consolation for me is the Sunday on Memorial Day Weekend, I can actually root for someone to win the Greatest Spectacle in sports.

Neville James
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

I'll watch TV on Memorial Day weekend first time since 1995.

Shinji Unno
Woodinville, Wash.

I think Michael Andretti should stick with CART along with all the rest of the CART guys. The IRL doesn't need those guys at Indy. It is already the greatest race in the world without CART drivers!

Jared Sanders
Linton, Ind.

I believe this will be great for the IRL and just the beginning of what could be the future. We are going to see more in the way of the CART drivers and manufacturers going to the IRL. This could be the start of the CART series down fall.

Tony Christen
Maryville, Tenn.

I hope this is the start of a trend. Personally, I don't care if CART and IRL ever merge. I would just like to see all drivers from both series attempt to qualify for Indy.

Richard Sprague
Sarasota, Fla.

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