Andretti to replace Green in No. 1 Chevrolet

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- John Andretti will replace Jeff Green in the No. 1 Chevrolet starting next weekend at Richmond International Raceway, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. announced Friday.

	John Andretti

Andretti, 40, has been out of full time work since being fired from Petty Enterprises in June. Since then, he has twice driven the No. 0 Pontiac for CNC Racing and piloted a DEI-supported Chance 2 Chevrolet in the Brickyard 400, faring no better than 33rd, and twice finishing outside the top 40.

"The racing heritage we have at DEI is unparalleled," said DEI president Teresa Earnhardt. "We look forward to making this team stronger with the invaluable experience that John brings."

In addition to two-career Winston Cup victories, Andretti has earned four poles, 13 top-fives and 37 top-10s.

"I look at driving for DEI as a great opportunity," Andretti said. "I'm excited to become a member of the team for the next few races. And, it's also nice to be reunited with Pennzoil again.

"I drove an Indy Car they sponsored in 1991 and 1992 and won my first race in their yellow car. This team at DEI is established in NASCAR and I'm hoping to do a good for them."

Andretti's gain is Green's loss. Green, in the No. 1 seat since mid-May during non-road course events, has fared no better than 16th in 11 starts. He says that's not enough time to right a wayward ship.

"It's hard to get in a situation for a couple months and make chicken s--- into chicken salad," Green said. "It wasn't that bad, either. Don't get me wrong. They have a good program.

"All three cars are very good equipment-wise and personnel-wise, but it just takes more than overnight to make things happen, and they just didn't give us that opportunity."

	Jeff Green

Green said he has some job leads in the NASCAR Busch Series, but nothing concrete. More than anything he yearns to regain the dominance he enjoyed in 2000, when he won six races en route to the most lopsided championship run in Busch Series history.

"I've got a few things working, for next year mainly, in the Busch Series. You know, the 24 car ain't opened up over here, or the 6 car or any of those goes. I'm just going to sit back and watch what comes along a little bit.

"I think everybody knows I'm available. If they didn't, they do now. My main goal is to be able to go into Victory Lane every once in a while and take some trophies home. I miss that."

Pennzoil recently announced they will not return to the No. 1 team next season.

"I've just tried to do the best I could each and every lap for these guys and hoped it would work into the rest of the season, but DEI has to do what they've got to do to make sure they have a sponsor next year and do the things they think they need to do to get the cars running better," Green said.