Marco Andretti eyes ALMS seat

Who was that suited driver climbing out of the No. 35 Maserati MC12 on Thursday at Road America? It was none other than Star Mazda rookie standout Marco Andretti, grandson of the legendary Mario.

Andretti and Maserati officials confirmed that the 18-year-old prodigy could be behind the wheel of a second MC12 that may compete at Petit Le Mans next month at Road Atlanta. Thursday, the team was fitting him in the GT1 ride, just in case. If Andretti does get a seat in the Maserati, he said he wouldn’t 't test until the week of the race.

Andretti would be the first of the famed motorsports family to compete in the ALMS. Mario Andretti drove from Panoz Motor Sports at Le Mans in 2000, teaming with David Brabham and Jan Magnussen in a Panoz LMP Roadster S.

The Generac 500 at Road America, Round 7 of the 2005 ALMS, is set for 3 p.m. EDT Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The race will be broadcast on SPEED Channel. Qualifying is scheduled for 2:55 p.m. EDT Saturday. American Le Mans Radio, and Live Timing and Scoring will be available at www.americanlemans.com.