“I know this is somewhat of a shock”: When Michael Andretti explained his big ‘sacrifice’ for himself and his family

Michael Andretti shocked the racing world in September 2024 by suddenly resigning as CEO of Andretti Global. He then handed the reins of his namesake organization to co-owner Dan Towriss, who became the majority owner.

The IndyCar legend ended his tremendously successful career as a team owner to spend time with his 10-year-old twins Mia and Mario, play the role of a "Nonna" to his son, Marco's daughter, Miura, and explore other personal and business ventures. A week after the announcement, Andretti penned a heartwarming letter to his fans explaining his months-long evaluation and the eventual exit decision. An excerpt from the letter read:

"Many of my best memories have come at the wheel of this organization, and I am so proud of what we have built. But decades of running flat out doesn’t come without sacrifice and, after much thought and reflection over the past several months, I came to the decision to take a step back. I’ve had a day-to-day operational role since even before I stepped out of the race car, and it’s time now to pass the baton to my partner and friend, Dan Towriss."

Andretti also shared deep gratitude for the fans he made as a racer while setting the CART (now IndyCar) world ablaze with 42 wins and the 1991 championship, and another four championships as Andretti Global's owner.

"As I make this decision for myself, my family and this team, I know this is somewhat of a shock to many, especially you, the fans, my extended family.... I’m honored to be considered a fan favorite, a role model and a friend. And I thank you for a lifetime of support and, in some cases, your brutal honesty."

Michael Andretti stepped back from full-time involvement and chose to continue in an advisory and ambassadorial capacity. After his exit, Dan Towriss made significant ground with F1 to help the General Motors-backed Cadillac F1 team enter the sport as its 11th team in 2026.

NASCAR veterans replaced Michael Andretti to usher in a new era in Andretti Global's story

Michael Andretti at the 2024 Portland E-Prix - Shakedown & Practice - Source: Getty

On Wednesday, December 4, Andretti Global announced the signing of two veteran NASCAR executives in the wake of Michael Andretti's exit. Dough Duchardt was named the chief performance officer of motorsports at TWG Group, the investment group that oversees Andretti Global. Jill Gregory was named chief operating officer of a subsidiary of TWG and the president of Andretti Global.

Duchardt is known for his extensive work in NASCAR helping mid-tier and top teams succeed under his leadership. He served Hendrick Motorsports for 12 years and led the team to seven Cup Series Championships before jumping ship to Chip Ganassi Racing as its COO and playing a pivotal role in four IndyCar championships. Duchardt's latest experience was a 2-year stint with Spire Motorsports.

Jill Gregory boasts of a similarly impressive resume, having served as NASCAR's executive vice president and chief marketing and content officer before managing the iconic Sonoma Raceway as its executive vice president and general manager, during which, she was awarded the title of one of "The Most Powerful Women in Sports" by Adweek.

It might be safe to say that Michael Andretti's legacy is in good hands. Andretti Global's star driver Colton Herta finished runner-up in the 2024 IndyCar season and is a prime candidate for Cadillac's 2026 F1 seat.