Andretti Autosport was far more prepared for the exodus of driver Danica Patrick than most anyone expected. At a preseason IndyCar test at Sebring International Raceway on Tuesday, team owner Michael Andretti said Patrick, as required by the terms of her final contract with his team, informed him early last year that she would not return. ‘January of ’11 she had to let us know what she was doing for ’12,’ Andretti said. ‘We purposely put it in the contract so in case she decided to leave, we had time. I ‘m glad we did that.’ Patrick signed a two-year deal with Andretti Autosport in 2009. It contained a mutual option for 2012. She asserted throughout the summer, with cover from Andretti, that her business team was exploring ‘all options,’ including returning to Andretti and IndyCar.(Sports Illustrated)(1-20-2012)
