Munoz officially confirmed at Andretti for 2014

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Carlos Munoz provided several “wow” moments in his three IndyCar cameos this season. The Colombian will have a full season’s worth of opportunities to do so in 2014.

The long-awaited confirmation of his step up to IndyCar with Andretti Autosport was announced Monday morning. Munoz, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 runner-up and rookie of the year, will drive the team’s fourth Honda-powered car with his car number and sponsorship details to be announced at a later date. He replaces E.J. Viso in the seat, having also done so at the last race at Fontana on short notice.

“I don’t have the words to express right now how I feel.” Munoz said in the team’s release. “After so many years of racing and all the sacrifices – leaving my family in Colombia and going to Europe to race, then coming here to the U.S. – but finally, I’m a professional race car driver in the maximum category in America, IndyCar. I have to thank Andretti Autosport, and especially Michael Andretti, for this opportunity.”

Although he starred at Indianapolis, as an injury fill-in for Ryan Briscoe in Toronto at Panther Racing and again on the 2-mile oval in Fontana, Munoz admits he’ll have a lot to learn as the first member of IndyCar’s 2014 rookie class.

“With that, I have to work hard in all aspects – mentally and physically.”  he said. I’m really happy and I’m looking forward to start practicing and testing. I also have to thank my family for all of their support all these years. Finally my dream has come true. Also to my fans for being here and believing in me; this is just the beginning.”

Munoz and teammate, 2012 series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, will test today at Sebring. His two seasons in Indy Lights included four wins and five poles, but ill-timed issues this year cost him a shot at the series championship.

Unlike Tristan Vautier this year, there’s a good chance Munoz will have competition for rookie-of-the-year honors in 2014. Luca Filippi is close to a deal at Bryan Herta Autosport, Sage Karam has the scholarship funding available for a full season jump after winning the Indy Lights crown, and Conor Daly would be a viable fit at several different teams if he does not garner enough budget for a GP2 or World Series by Renault season in Europe.

Additionally, Michael Andretti was here in Austin this weekend and confirmed the team’s engineering change to move Craig Hampson, James Hinchcliffe’s 2013 engineer, into a team R&D role with Nathan O’Rourke coming into the fold from Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. No announcement on Munoz’s engineer was provided as yet.

Seattle Supercross by the numbers: Three riders separated by 17 points

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Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.

Seattle Supercross numbers
Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports

For the fifth time in 10 rounds. Sexton, Webb, and Eli Tomac shared the podium in Detroit. Between them, the trio has taken 23 podiums, leaving only seven for the remainder of the field. Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia have two each with Aaron Plessinger scoring the other.

Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.

Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.

Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.

The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.

In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.

Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.

Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.

Last Five Seattle Winners

450s
2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto

250s
2022: Hunter Lawrence
2019: Dylan Ferrandis
2018: Aaron Plessinger
2017: Aaron Plessinger
2014: Cole Seely

By the Numbers

Detroit
Indianapolis
Daytona
Arlington
Oakland
Tampa
Houston
Anaheim 2
San Diego

More SuperMotocross coverage

How to Watch Seattle Supercross
Dylan Ferrandis may return before SX finale
SMX develops “Leader Lights”
Power Rankings after Detroit
Hunter Lawrence defends Haiden Deegan
Results and points after Detroit
Chase Sexton wins in Detroit, penalized seven points