Michael Andretti tells AP ‘timing was right’ for a restructuring of Andretti Global WSOC TV [Video]

Motorsports icon Michael Andretti told The Associated Press on Sunday he’s at a point in his life where he no longer wants to run the day-to-day of his global operation and that’s why he turned over leadership to his business partner.

No, Dan Towriss did not steal Andretti Global out from under one of the most successful racers in American history.

Towriss, owner of Gainbridge and holding company Group 1001, has slowly grown from a sponsor of one of Andretti’s IndyCar teams to one of the biggest spenders in motorsports. But at least two years ago, Towriss bought an ownership stake in Andretti Global and became part of the entire organization.

And no, Andretti said with firm denial, he was not pushed out of IndyCar by series owner Roger Penske. “Absolutely not. I would not give Roger that much credit,” Andretti told AP.

Andretti and Penske were at odds the entire seasonwhen Andretti opened the year by calling on Penske to …