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Tzouanakis joins Andretti Autosport for 2013 Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS -- A Greencastle native and veteran IndyCar team member is adjusting to a new team this May.
John "TZ" Tzouanakis has joined Indianapolis-based Andretti Autosport for the 2013 Indianapolis 500.
Tzouanakis will serve as the pit strategist for the No. 26 Unistraw Chevrolet piloted by Indianapolis rookie Carlos Munoz.
"After spending my career working my way up the ranks with Newman/Haas, I'm looking forward to again working with Michael (Andretti) and taking my career to new levels," Tzouanakis said. "The Mazda Road to Indy program features drivers with great potential, and the opportunity to work with one of those drivers for his first Indy 500 will be a great new chapter to my career."
During his 30-year tenure with Newman/Haas Racing, Tzouanakis has worked alongside drivers that include Mario and Michael Andretti, Sebastian Bourdais, Nigel Mansell and Cristiano da Matta.
With eight open-wheel championships under his belt with Newman/Haas, and as a well-known figure in the racing community, the racing veteran offers a wealth of experience and competitive attitude that cemented his name at the top of the board for potential candidates.
Prior to his Newman/Haas reign, Tzouanakis worked with Chaparral Cars during the 1980 Indy 500 and championship run of Johnny Rutherford.
Before making a career in open wheel racing, Tzouanakis tagged along with his father Mike to the track when the longtime Greencastle educator served as a "yellow shirt" of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Patrol.
Team owner Michael Andretti, who also spent many months of May at IMS with his father, expressed his happiness at bringing in a veteran and former co-worker to help his young driver.
"'TZ' is a great addition to our team," Andretti said. "I had the opportunity to work with him in the past and I think he brings a great deal of racing experience to the table. We look forward to having him on board to help Carlos (Munoz) through his first Indy 500."
Munoz is currently competing full-time on the Firestone Indy Lights circuit for Andretti Autosport.
Saturday's Pole Day will mark his first Indy 500 qualifying attempt alongside Andretti teammates Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe, E.J. Viso and reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.
The Colombian has shown well through the first several days of practice, consistently posting laps among the top 10 fastest, including a top speed of 223.11 on Tuesday.
That hot lap was good enough for eighth-best on the day and fastest by a rookie.
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place Sunday, May 26 at the famed 2.5-mile oval in Speedway. Qualifying will be broadcast by NBC Sports Network this Saturday.