MAPEI Backing Marco Andretti For Indy 500

Marco Andretti will partner with MAPEI for this year's Indianapolis 500. (James Black/IndyCar photo)

INDIANAPOLIS – Despite a change in his main scenery this year, Marco Andretti will still return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May for his 19th appearance in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Announced Tuesday, the third-generation racer from Nazareth, Pa., will be back with Andretti Global – the NTT IndyCar Series team owned by his father, Michael – for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Andretti will pilot the No. 98 Honda during the Month of May at IMS. The car will be officially entered into the historic race under the branding of Andretti Herta with Marco Andretti and Curb-Agajanian.

Since his stunning runner-up debut as an Indianapolis 500 rookie in 2006, Andretti has gone on to earn four podiums and eight top-10 finishes in the 500-Mile Race, all under the Andretti Global umbrella.

He also earned the pole position for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in 2020.

Andretti’s main focus this season will be on stock-car racing, as he contests a varied slate of ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Cook Racing Technologies, but he’ll also be hoping to snap a streak of rough luck at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Since his most recent Indianapolis 500 top 10, an eighth-place finish in 2017, Andretti has been 12th or worse in his last six ‘500’ starts. He’s a two-time NTT IndyCar Series winner, most recently in 2011 at Iowa Speedway.

MAPEI, a leading manufacturer of chemical products for the building industry, will serve as the primary sponsor on Andretti’s entry in addition to its full-season partnership with Kyle Kirkwood on Andretti Global’s No. 27 Honda.

MAPEI’s partnership with Andretti combines precision engineering with racing excellence, shining a spotlight on the two brands’ shared commitment to performance.

“MAPEI is a global frontrunner in the manufacturing of products specifically tailored for the building industry. Renowned for our commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, MAPEI’s products have been instrumental in shaping landmarks and infrastructure worldwide,” said Luigi di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI North America. “Not only are we a global leader, but we are also family-owned and operated. That is why this partnership with Andretti Global has such resonance for us.

“At heart, we are two families dedicated to pursuing excellence. This venture into motorsports for the 2024 and 2025 seasons with Andretti Global is a continuation of MAPEI’s dedication to forging dynamic partnerships that resonate with our drive for innovation, precision, and excellence,” continued di Geso. “We are excited about this collaboration and look forward to a year of unparalleled performance.”

This year’s Indianapolis 500 marks MAPEI’s first appearance at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

“It’s exciting for us to bring MAPEI into the Andretti family and provide them with their first experience in racing and the NTT IndyCar Series,” added Andretti Global CEO and Chairman Michael Andretti. “It’s apparent that MAPEI shares our passion for maximizing performance and achievement, which will show through our partnership goals.

“The Indianapolis 500 is a marquee event, and we’re honored to welcome a new brand as the primary partner on the No. 98 at the 500.”

Andretti will debut the MAPEI colors on the No. 98 Honda April 10-11 during IndyCar open testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 108th Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 26 on NBC.