Philly Sports Jabronis
Long Pond, PA – Open-wheel racing mad an historic return after a 24-year absence to Pocono Raceway for the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco July 7. Two racing legends, and former Pocono race winners, Mario Andretti and Danny Sullivan, shared their thoughts on Pocono and what it means to have the “Tricky Triangle” back on the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule.
“Pocono Raceway holds a special place in my heart for so many reasons,” said Andretti. “In addition to being close to my home, it’s very challenging for drivers and engineers to figure out. It’s called ‘The Tricky Triangle’ for a reason. I fell in love with Pocono long before I won there in 1986. From the very beginning, 45 years ago, this was a superspeedway in my own backyard. A gem of a playground! I became friends with the Mattioli family early on and we have maintained our friendship.”
“A great layout, and three distinctly different corners, makes a good setup difficult,” said Sullivan, winner of the 1984 and 1989 events at Pocono. “Pocono used to be rough, but that added to the challenge. My races there were always close and competitive. Winning it twice was special.”
Additional past Pocono Raceway winners include some of the all-time greatest drivers in history, including A. J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Bobby Rahal and Al Unser. The next generation of IZOD IndyCar Series drivers are all vying to become the first open-wheel winner at “The Tricky Triangle” since 1989.
“I think Pocono is an ideal track for Indy cars,” said Sullivan. “With all of the upgrades, improvements in safety, you should see a great return from the IndyCar Series.”
“I’m happy to personally welcome Pocono back into INDYCAR’s ever-evolving story,” said Andretti. “Whatever the changes, from one era to the next, Pocono has maintained its character and significance to me, and it always will. My family shares this sentiment.”
