The Andrettis dominate ROP

Never mind that. This day was all about the Andrettis.

Rookie Marco Andretti, the 19-year-old son of Michael and grandson of Mario, passed his four phases of the rookie orientation program in less than an hour in what could have been called Andretti Appreciation Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Michael, who is coming out of retirement to mentor his son through his first Indy 500, also passed his refresher test with no trouble.

All this after a ceremonial ice-breaker of parade laps featuring all three generation of Andrettis -- including Mario in the No. 1 Dean Van Lines Special, a Clint Brawner-built, Ford-powered Hawk that Andretti drove to the pole position in 1967.

"It just so happened that I was able to share this day with both Michael and Marco," Mario said. "This is the beginning of something very exciting for both of them."

After his grandfather relived the past and held court with reporters in the pits, Marco Andretti breezed through the four stages of ROP, topping out with the second-fastest lap of the day - 220.572 mph - while using a tight line in the No. 26 Andretti Green Racing Honda/Dallara, staying off the white line in the turns and far from the wall upon exit, .

"Once we got comfortable with running flat, we tried to experiment a little bit," Marco said. "The car felt so good that I didn't have to take it to the wall. I'm still experimenting. It's my first day out here. I'm moving around a little bit."

Michael and Marco are likely to become just the fourth father-son duo to race together in the Indy 500. Michael and Mario Andretti first did it in 1984; Al Unser and Al Unser Jr. did it in 1983; and Mario and Jeff Andretti did it in 1991.

The idea that the race holds a curse over the family - combined, the Andrettis are 1-for-53 in the Indy 500 - hasn't been mentioned much since Marco won an IRL Infiniti Pro Series race on the IMS road course last summer, but the fact that one of the world's greatest racing families struggled at one of the world's greatest races still looms in the background.

"People think we've been unlucky because we didn't win more than once," Mario said, "but I'd say we've been lucky because I've been up front and led this race many, many times. That's what brought satisfaction to me. I have nothing but positive memories of my driving here at Indianapolis."

P.J. Chesson also passed the four phases of ROP without trouble, recording a top lap of 214.302 mph in the No. 91 Carmelo Hemelgarn Honda/Dallara.

Andretti, Chesson and Thiago Medeiros, who will drive the No. 18 PDM Racing Honda/Dallara, are the only drivers required to complete all four phases of the rookie orientation program.

The first three phases must be completed during ROP, while the fourth phase may be completed during Tuesday's first day of practice.

Seven other drivers - Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Townsend Bell, Arie Luyendyk Jr., Jon Herb, Stephan Gregoire and Larry Foyt - are required to complete the refresher course, which consists of the final two phases of the rookie test.

Luyendyk turned 39 laps in the No. 61 Luyendyk Racing Honda/Panoz, completing one phase of his refresher, while Bell circled the track just twice in the No. 90 Vision Racing Honda/Dallara.

Just six cars recorded laps Sunday, including nine late laps by Unser in the No. 31 Dreyer & Reinbold Honda/Dallara.

The four phases require drivers to hold a steady speed for multiple laps, beginning first with 195 mph, then 200 mph, then 205 mph and then 210 mph or above.

Andretti had little difficulty getting to the speed and impressing IRL officials, including the final arbiter, Brian Barnhart.

"It was easier than I thought to get up to speed," Andretti said. "At some points, I was faster than they wanted me to be, but I figured if I could show them I could handle the speed, I'd be OK."

In his first laps around the 2.5-mile oval in nearly three years, Michael Andretti was nearly flawless, topping out at 220.999 mph in a 51-lap shakedown of the No. 1 AGR Honda/Dallara.

"I got right up to speed and got right with the program," Andretti said. "I'm very happy with the way I feel in the car. No rust or anything."

After another five-hour session Monday for rookie and refresher tests, practice begins for the entire field Tuesday.

After four days of practice, pole qualifying will be held Saturday. The race is scheduled for May 28.

Pos  Driver              Make            Speed (mph)
 1.  Michael Andretti    Dallara-Honda   220.999
 2.  Marco Andretti      Dallara-Honda   220.572
 3.  P.J. Chesson        Dallara-Honda   214.302
 4.  Arie Luyendyk Jr.   Panoz-Honda     206.468
 5.  Al Unser Jr.        Dallara-Honda   206.387
 6.  Townsend Bell       Dallara-Honda   113.065