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photo: Ron McQueeney

Sure, everyone knows who Danica Patrick is. We also know that she drives for Andretti Green Racing which is considered one of the big three, team wise in the IndyCar Series. Andretti Green Racing is also the only team in the IndyCar Series that fields 4 cars full time. In 2007 they even fielded a 5^th car for Michael Andretti in the Indianapolis 500. Most of us already know this.

Most of us also know that Andretti Green Racing has a reputation that speaks for itself. With 34 wins and 22 poles in the team’s history I would think that Andretti Green Racing has a handle on things. In the 2008 season alone they led 749 laps. All of the drivers also finished the end of the season in the top ten in points.

Danica Patrick is one of the drivers that make Andretti Green Racing the team that it is. She is without a doubt one of the most recognized female sports figures in the world. What many people don’t realize is that the driver is not the only one responsible for the team’s success. Behind every successful driver we have a strong crew and the crew of the #7 Motorola sponsored car is no exception to this.

When we as fans arrive on race weekend we see and recognize the work put in by the drivers, team owners, and even the engineers. What we do not realize is the work put in by the Chief mechanics and the mechanics that work for them. Their race weekend starts before everyone else’s race weekend begins.

When I was covering the IndyCar open test at Homestead Miami Speedway in February, I had the opportunity to observe the crew of the #7 Motorola car of Andretti Green Racing from transport roll in to roll out. Upon observing the crew it stood out to me that they are the true heart of the race team.

In charge of this crew we have chief mechanic Dave Sharpley Jr. He is also the outside front tire changer for Danica. He leads Anton Julian, lead mechanic and inside front tire changer, Corey McClish, front end mechanic and fueler, and Shawn Ford, front end mechanic and jack man, Craig McCain, lead mechanic, Kyle Sagan, transporter driver, outside rear tire changer and tires, Brad Banker, transporter driver and tires, Doug Shelby, data acquisition. Michael Andretti is the race strategist and owner and calls the shots. I watched these individuals turn the setup of the car around in 45 minutes while eating supper. All this while having a good time and cheerfully joking with each other.

When the driver’s work is finished at the end of the season, the crew pushes on and already begins preparations for the next season. They do all their shop repairs and upgrades to their pit and garage equipment. They make changes and improvements to the haulers to make it easier for them when they are at the track. They also do all the maintenance at their facility since they do not employ a custodial staff.

The crew’s race weekend starts before the fans race weekend starts. The crew arrives and hauler arrives at the track a day or two before the gates are open to the public. After driving from Indianapolis the truck drivers load in. Usually at about the same time the rest of the team is arriving at the closest airport. They travel straight to the track and proceed to unload the hauler from front to back. They set up the garage, setup pad, tools, and the flooring in the garage so they can look presentable as they are working on the cars.

The team then unloads the car from the hauler and onto the setup pad. They put the racecar on the heater so they can do a warm up and systems check. It is then off to the inspection garage where the car is safety checked. They check things such as the tethers that are attached to the wheels, suspension, and rear wings so that they do not leave the car in the event of an on track accident. They also check the lighting system for caution which is the blinking light on top of the rear attenuator and a yellow light in the cockpit that signals the driver.

When this is complete, the car heads to tech inspection where set requirements are checked such as wing heights and widths, body widths, mirror heights, minimum weight requirements, and wheelbase requirements. After this is done the car and crew return to their garage area and fix or repair anything that did not pass the tech inspection. This is usually the conclusion of the first day at the track.

When race day comes the mechanics are now the pit crew. Dave Sharpley Jr. flags Danica down as she enters pit lane and signals her departure when the tires are changed, car is fueled, and it is clear for her to pull out and head back onto the track. The finishing order of a race can be determined in pit lane and that was proven a few weekends ago on the Streets of Long Beach where Danica went from starting 22^nd to finishing 4^th.  In Kansas Danica started P3 and finished P5.

This will be the grind for at least 14 more times this year. When the drivers work is done at the end of the race or the season, the crew will begin their preparations once again for the next race weekend, whether it is in a week or in a few months.

These individuals that make up the heart of Andretti Green Racing deserve to be commended in their effort that they put in over the course of the year. Next time you are at a race or a test session. Keep in mind that there is more than just a driver; there is a strong support and foundation behind them that is the crew.