Decision on Andretti at Indy today

[Elwood]

Decision on Andretti at Indy today: DEI director of motorsports Richie Gilmore said Sunday at Pocono Raceway that the team would make a decision Monday on whether or not to field a car next weekend at the Brickyard 400 for John Andretti. Andretti has raced at least once a year at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the past 16 years, either in a Cup stock car or an Indy car -- including 1994 when he ran both the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. DEI has not filed a preliminary entry for its #1 Chevrolet, which Andretti has driven in five previous races this season. "We've got a car ready to go," Gilmore said. "We had a couple sponsors we thought we had lined up that didn't come through, so some of our existing sponsors are talking about doing something for it."

"The only thing we miss out on by not filing the entry sooner is the points," Gilmore said. "And since we're not in a position to have a provisional (starting position) anyway, it's not that big a deal." A month ago, when the Nextel Cup Series was here to race in the Pocono 500, Gilmore said he hoped to have Andretti's full-time program for the balance of this season and into 2005 signed in time to go to Indy. "It's still viable and I think it's real close to something for the 1 right now," Gilmore said. "Right now, everything we've got going involves Martin Truex."

"That would be the most we would do (this year), is two. Next year, we've got seven races scheduled and then the full schedule in 2006." Gilmore said Truex's sponsor also "is not signed yet, but it's real close."