INDIANAPOLIS — Less than one week after being dismissed as team manager of Vision Racing after both cars failed to pass post-qualification technical inspection in the season-opening race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larry Curry has a new job.
Curry was hired as chief engineer at Roth Racing, where he will oversee the two-car operation for drivers Marty Roth and John Andretti, who has replaced rookie Jay Howard.
“Having a person of Larry’s experience join our organization, especially as the month of May and the most important race of the season is upon us, should be a huge boost to us all,” Roth said. “Although we realize that changing team personnel at the season’s fifth race may put us slightly behind the 8 ball as we head into the first weekend of qualifying at Indy, we feel that the knowledge and leadership that Larry brings to the team will only make us better as we continue to develop our program and strive to become more competitive at each race.”
Curry was able to take his latest setback in stride and move to his next opportunity.
“I had a great three-and-a-half years at Vision Racing, and I want to thank Tony George for his support over the years,” Curry said. “I now look forward to a long tenure with Roth Racing and to the challenges of helping to build the team into a competitive, first-class organization.”
Curry replaces David Cripps, who has moved back to Panther Racing where he will serve as Vitor Meira’s engineer. Cripps spent the past two seasons at Vision Racing working with Tomas Scheckter.
Just one day after saying he had no shot at finding a ride for the first weekend of the Indy 500, Andretti was named to replace Howard.
Andretti, who has spent the past 15 years in NASCAR, is back for another attempt at Indy.
“I want to feel it out a little bit and see what we can do,” Andretti said.
Andretti made seven-consecutive starts in the Indianapolis 500 from 1988-94 and returned for an eighth start last year.