Advertisement

Ryan Hunter-Reay running strong as he seeks a second Indianapolis 500 title

 
Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won Indy in 2014, is a contender for a second title in today’s 101st running. He qualified 10th, had the third-fastest practice lap and his team is looking strong.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won Indy in 2014, is a contender for a second title in today’s 101st running. He qualified 10th, had the third-fastest practice lap and his team is looking strong.
Published May 28, 2017

Ryan Hunter-Reay isn't a big jewelry fan.

He makes an exception, though, for the checkered ring on his left hand — a regular reminder of his career-defining victory at the 2014 Indianapolis 500.

"I have a lot of pride in that thing, that's for sure," Hunter-Reay said. "It's not just about the victory. It's the path to get there, right?"

And now it's about the path to get back. The 36-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident should be a contender today to chug the celebratory milk in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.

The 2012 IndyCar Series champion qualified 10th, and his No. 28 Honda had the third-fastest practice lap (232.458 mph) during all of the practice sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

His Andretti Autosport team is even stronger than it was last year when Hunter-Reay's tow helped teammate Alexander Rossi win the 500 with no fuel left in the tank. Andretti expanded from four cars to six, including the addition of two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso.

"It's two extra data points to pull from," Hunter-Reay said.

It seems to be working; five of those six drivers (Rossi, Hunter-Reay, Alonso, Marco Andretti and Takuma Sato) qualified in the top 10.

Hunter-Reay is a better driver now than he was when he earned that black and white ring in 2014. It's not just the late race heroics — how he and three-time champion Helio Castroneves dueled in the final laps before Hunter-Reay pulled ahead to become the first American 500 winner since Sam Hornish in 2006.

Reflecting on that day three years later during a media blitz, Hunter-Reay knows the way he handled the first 194 laps helped him pull through in the final six.

"I think with age and with experience, you get more and more methodical — a little more patient, maybe," Hunter-Reay said. "That's probably one of them is more patient, letting a race like that come to you."

Hunter-Reay was ready to use those lessons last year, but a pit-road collision with teammate Townsend Bell damaged a car that led 52 laps early. The best Hunter-Reay could do was to help Rossi save fuel so his teammate could start being introduced as an Indy 500 winner.

"I really think that's the best thing about it," Hunter-Reay said. "It almost gives you a title, like Mister. You're Indy 500 champion, and it'll forever be that way."

The only title better?

Two-time Indy 500 champion.

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.