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While four drivers vie for the Indy Racing League title on Sunday, Michael Andretti won't know what to do with himself. On the sidelines of this year's title hunt, the co-owner of the last two IRL champs is in a different position.

Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesMarco Andretti is eager to take what he's learned this year into his sophomore campaign.

Oddly enough, it's a rather exciting position.

"There's a lot of excitement," he said.

Of course, he wasn't referring to Sunday's race, though there is excitement for that and hope that the team can place one of its four drivers in Victory Lane once more before the year is out.

For Andretti and his Andretti Green Racing team, the excitement is mostly over next season. Back again are 2004 champ Tony Kanaan and Andretti's son, Marco Andretti, who won both the Indy 500 rookie honors and the season's rookie award. Joining the duo is Danica Patrick, whom the elder Andretti is particularly eager to team up with.

"Our focus has been and always will be on winning races and winning championships," Andretti said when the announcement was made. "We certainly believe Danica will do that. She has made it very clear that one of her goals as a driver is to win the Indianapolis 500, and we are looking forward to giving her a great opportunity to do that."

After Kanaan won the IRL title for the AGR camp in '04 and Dan Wheldon did the same, also claiming the Indy 500 in 2005, the team has leveled off in 2006.

Kanaan leads the four-driver camp at sixth in the points standings, followed by Andretti in seventh, Dario Franchitti in eighth and Bryan Herta back in 11th. All are well out of title contention.

No official announcements have been made about Franchitti's and Herta's status with the team beyond 2006.

But the team does expect things to change next season. Marco won his first race last month and, with better racing equipment, the team is confident it can be the first to put a woman in the IndyCar Victory Lane next season.

"I can't wait to get back next year with all the knowledge that I gained from this year," Marco said. "I think it'll be huge."

Added Patrick: "I do think I have a better chance of winning. Leaving Rahal Letterman doesn't say I didn't think they can win, it means I think I have a better chance with Andretti Green. They have more wins and more championships. I feel I can learn a lot. They work hard on developing the car, and that means a lot to me. Change is good and getting better as a driver takes change sometimes."

Patrick knows a lot of attention will be focused on her -- especially wondering when she will finally break through and win, and even if she's worthy of those lofty expectations. She said she's gotten good advice from the folks at AGR: adjusting to a new team takes time, so be patient with expectations.

"You tend to develop a language with your engineer over time and it takes a little bit of time to get on the same page with the new guy making the changes to your car," she said. "At the beginning it takes a whole lot of talking and eventually it takes only a word. It takes a while to build trust."

Patrick said she got a heavy teamwork vibe from Kanaan and Marco Andretti already, and she believes that will help her, and hopefully all three, excel.

"Tony is the best driver on the team and he tends to finish in front of the other drivers on the team," Patrick said. "It'd be a great confidence booster to run with him and beat him. Marco is a young driver and I'm a young driver. I've gotten along with him very well. I don't think there will be much butting of heads, but our job is to go faster and make everyone else on the team go faster."

Rupen Fofaria is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at rupenisracin@yahoo.com.