Former IndyCar driver and team owner Michael Andretti stepped down from his leadership role at Andretti Global before the start of the 2025 season. Dan Towriss has since taken over the leadership of the team. Following Michael’s departure, Andretti Global became part of the TWG Motorsports group, which also includes Cadillac F1.

In a recent discussion, IndyCar insider Marshall Pruett responded to a fan’s question about Michael Andretti’s exit. The fan expressed that Michael’s presence was valuable to IndyCar and compared Andretti Global without him to other iconic teams without their founders, such as Chip Ganassi Racing without Ganassi or Team Penske without Roger Penske. Pruett acknowledged that while Towriss leads the team now, he is not Michael Andretti. However, he noted that Mario Andretti remains involved, and overall, the team is in a better position without Michael. Pruett added that those he consulted agreed the change has been positive, with results supporting this view.

Andretti Global has been competitive in the 2025 IndyCar season, winning races alongside Chip Ganassi Racing. Notably, Kyle Kirkwood from Andretti Global won two races, while Alex Palou from Chip Ganassi Racing won most others. Marcus Ericsson, another Andretti driver, finished second at the 2025 Indy 500 but was later penalized post-race. Meanwhile, Team Penske has struggled this season, with no driver ranking higher than fifth in the championship.

Dan Towriss revealed that Michael Andretti’s decision to leave was influenced by intense political pressure surrounding Andretti Global’s rejected application to enter Formula 1. Towriss described difficult meetings with Formula One Management and other external factors that made the situation complex and politically charged. He suggested that Michael was content with the team but chose to step away due to these pressures and the complexities of managing multiple motorsport series.

Since stepping down, Michael Andretti has been seen attending several IndyCar events, including the season opener in St. Petersburg and the 109th Indianapolis 500, where his son Marco Andretti competed as a one-off entry.