Andretti makes return to racing roots

John Andretti is coming back to his racing roots, at least for one more try at winning the Indianapolis 500.

Andretti, who has spent the past dozen years in NASCAR, joined Panther Racing on Wednesday as a teammate of Vitor Meira and Kosuke Matsuura for the May 27 race.

It would be his first competition in the Indy Racing League, which began two years after his last appearance in an Indy car in 1994.

Matsuura qualified 17th and Meira 19th among the 22 who earned spots in the lineup last weekend. Marco Andretti, who was runner-up as a rookie last year, and his father, Michael, who was third, also have already qualified for Andretti Green Racing, which Michael Andretti co-owns.

John Andretti, who still must take the final two phases of a refresher test, did not practice Wednesday.

Meira tested Andretti’s car, though, and had a top lap of just more than 215 mph.

The fastest among the 27 drivers on the track was Danica Patrick at 221.189. Scott Dixon was next at 220.556, followed by defending champion Sam Hornish Jr. at 220.484 and Marco Andretti at 220.399.

“Veteran driver Jimmy Kite spun in the first turn and hit the outside wall during the Indianapolis 500 practice.

He was not injured and was cleared to drive after a mandatory checkup at the infield hospital.

Newman crew wins challenge

Ryan Newman’s team kicked off NASCAR’s All-Star week by winning the Nextel Pit Crew Challenge, beating Bobby Labonte’s team in the final round.

Newman’s seven-member crew changed four tires, filled the car with gas and pushed it 40 yards in 24.66 seconds to collect the $70,300 first prize.

Hamlin revamps crew

Denny Hamlin’s crew was overhauled three days after the driver blamed the group for costing him a win.

Hamlin was critical of his crew after Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway, where he led a race-high 179 laps but couldn’t contend for the win because of an error during a late pit stop. He was in second when he entered the pits, but two lug nuts were dropped and Hamlin plummeted to 16th.

The team met Monday to discuss changes, and arrived at the Pit Crew Challenge with a new roster.

Junior merchandise skyrockets

Sales of Dale Earnhardt Jr. merchandise has skyrocketed 107 percent in the week since NASCAR’s most popular driver said he was leaving his late father’s company at the end of the season.

The surge surprised industry experts, who believed sales of Earnhardt’s red No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet merchandise would dip while he searches for a new team, number and maybe a new sponsor.