Michael Andretti, the owner of an FIA Formula E team, is contemplating adding NHRA drag racing to his expanding motorsports portfolio.
During the Portland E Prix at Portland International Raceway, Andretti expressed his interest in expanding into NHRA drag racing. He mentioned this possibility at a media roundtable before the event, highlighting his openness to fielding an NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series team.
Andretti stated, “I’m looking at it. I have many friends in drag racing, and we’re discussing a few things. We’ll see how it goes.”
While his son, Marco Andretti, a seasoned NTT IndyCar Series driver, has attended drag races, he has no interest in competing in them, unlike his late cousin John Andretti, who had a stint in drag racing.
Michael Andretti is building a diverse portfolio of marketing partners across various motorsport disciplines, providing sponsors with multiple options. “We want to offer sponsors whatever they want, whether it’s sports cars, IndyCar, Extreme E, Formula E, or Supercars. Having a diverse portfolio allows us to offer different opportunities,” he said.
Andretti briefly touched on his ambition to field a Formula 1 team, describing it as the pinnacle of his goals. “Getting the F1 thing done would complete what we aim to achieve,” he remarked.
Discussing potential expansion into Formula 2, Formula 3, or sports-car racing, Andretti emphasized that it’s about broadening their portfolio rather than replacing any current involvement. He mentioned plans to eventually move his Formula E operation from Banbury, Oxfordshire, to Andretti Global’s new 48,000-square-foot facility at Silverstone, which is designed to house the Andretti Cadillac Formula 1 enterprise.
“Eventually, we plan to move there and perhaps have a Formula 3 and Formula 2 team as well. It will be big enough to accommodate all those activities,” Andretti said, indicating that this transition is a few years down the line.
