Andretti thrilled with 2-day F1 test

UPDATE "About halfway through the test we started to get going," Marco Andretti said. "We did not end up too bad. My head was down a little bit with the times until Jenson Button got in my car and went similar. So, I was happy he was able to do that."

Father Michael and grandfather Mario attended the test.

"I think he did a tremendous job," Michael told NSSN. "He is not too far off pace. It was a great thing having Jenson get in his car so he knows exactly where he stands. In the end we figured he was about half a second off. That is not too bad after your second day in the car, and these things are very, very tricky to drive. There is so much to learn."

Team boss Nick Fry was pleased with Marco's test.

"I was very, very impressed with Marco," Fry said. "You have to pinch yourself to remember that he is only 19 years old. His third day in an F-1 car, and difficult conditions, a combination of damp and tricky and wet, and he got in his stride. He drove really well, didn't put a wheel wrong."

02/08/07 IndyCar Series driver Marco Andretti joined the Honda Racing team in Jerez this week for his second opportunity to drive the RA106. Marco began his program on Wednesday and spent the morning re-acclimatizing himself to the car, before completing data gathering exercises and race start simulations in the afternoon, covering 74 laps.

With the poor weather on Thursday, Marco had his first chance to experience an F1 car in wet conditions, covering 63 laps and he was absolutely thrilled with the experience….

"It's been awesome to have the chance to get back in a F1 car this week and I would really like to thank the Honda team for giving me this second opportunity," he said. “I have really enjoyed my two days here, and by the end of the second day with the wet conditions, I feel that I've really adapted to the way that the car has to be driven. So the weather was actually quite useful for me and I've now experienced a little bit of everything in only three days. I was happy with my long run pace over the test but the one lap times are something that I am sure would come with further time in the car."

“It has been a pleasure to have Marco Andretti with us this week and to give him a further opportunity in the 2006 car," said Jacky Eeckelaert – Engineering Director. “Once again Marco has shown a high level of ability, given his relative inexperience, and his long run pace in particular was quite impressive. With the poor weather conditions today, Marco drove for the first time in the wet and adapted very well to the difficult track conditions without making any mistakes."