Petty hopes Andretti stays UPDATE: Kyle Petty said on Saturday that he hopes John Andretti returns for a sixth season in the #43 Cheerios Dodge, but also acknowledged that Andretti is exploring other options. “John’s been out talking, and that’s a fact of life in Winston Cup racing,” Petty said, ” We want him to stay. We would be remiss to change drivers.” Andretti’s contract with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of this year. It’s been a frustrating season for Andretti, 39, who has scored just three top-20 finishes in 12 races this season and is currently 32nd in points. He was 31st last year. Petty also said that the improvement of the #44 Dodge — Steve Grissom finished eighth at Richmond, that car’s best finish since 2000 — has sparked interest among other drivers. Petty is also busy solidifying the future of his own #45 Dodge, whose contract with Sprint runs out at the end of the year. Petty’s other two cars, the #43 and the #44, are fully sponsored for 2003.(NASCAR.com)(6-1-2002) UPDATE – Andretti says he’s not thinking about leaving Petty: Petty Enterprises, concerned driver John Andretti will leave the organization when his contract expires at the end of the year, might not have anything to worry about. Andretti admitted Tuesday he’ not happy with his performance this season, but still believes things can turn around with the Petty organization. “It’ too good of an organization to be where were at and it’ I dont want to use the word embarrassing but it’ just not what were capable of doing,” he said. “Ive been here for a lot rougher days and I know that everything is coming in the right direction. So I dont know that I am ready to get off right now because I know things are coming.” Poor performances, coupled with the Indy issue, created speculation that Andretti would not be back with Petty at the end of the season. Petty has heard the rumors and said over the weekend he hoped Andretti would not leave the #43 Dodge. Andretti seemed surprised at all the free agency talk. “If I get to January and they stop paying me, I guess Id get my contract out and read it,” he said. “In all honesty, I couldnt tell you how long Ive been here and how long the contract was for.” He also said while disappointed at not running Indy this year, it would not be a major sticking point to future negotiations with Petty or any other car owner. “I like people to agree to things and not be forced into them, and Id hate to think I might have to force an issue to do something,” he said.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(6-5-2002)
