father - Michael Andretti eyes F1 'customer cars'

Mario Andretti

Michael Andretti would get involved in formula one as a team owner if the sport allowed 'customer cars' on the grid.

That is the claim of former McLaren driver Andretti's famous father Mario, the 1978 world champion.

He told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that allowing teams to sell chassis to one another would help those teams that are struggling financially.

"I have already spoken with Bernie Ecclestone about it," said the 73-year-old.

"It would also be a way for new teams to be a part of formula one, even if they don't have their own racing car factories," added Andretti.

"My son (Michael) would be one of the first who would come in, if he could buy a car from one of the top manufacturers."

Mario Andretti dismissed the claim customer cars would devalue the sport.

"I find the idea of a blue Ferrari overtaking a red Ferrari very interesting," he said. "It would give formula one a whole new appeal."

Michael Andretti, whose F1 career as Ayrton Senna's teammate at McLaren in 1993 was brief, is now a team owner in various series including Indycar.

'Andretti Autosport' will also contest the FIA's new Formula E series for electric single seaters in 2014.

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