May 3, 2012 (Via Jenna Fryer, AP) – Ryan Hunter-Reay made a decision to race smart at the start of the season with a clear focus on the big picture.
It’s worked through the first four races, and Hunter-Reay is off to his best start ever in the IndyCar Series. His reward? He’ll ride his momentum into Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he can apply a new approach to the biggest of the race of the season.
“I just love the place, I have such a massive amount of respect for Indy,” Hunter-Reay said. “The No. 1 thing I want to do this year is have fun and really enjoy the place – as opposed to last year, when it was white knuckle the whole time, and running slow.”
Last year was an Indianapolis 500 disaster for both Hunter-Reay and the entire Andretti Autosport organization. It was clear immediately the Andretti cars were off, and none of the changes applied made any improvement. The team had five cars entered, and Hunter-Reay sensed what was coming.
“I remember saying, ‘If we don’t make major improvements, we’re going to wind up in a cannibalism situation, just eating each other,'” he said.
He was right. John Andretti, in a one-off ride, was the only Andretti car to qualify in the first round. It sent the four full-time drivers into Bump Day all vying for one of nine available spots in the field.
Hunter-Reay had been in that position before, in 2009, when he began his final qualifying attempt moments before the gun went off to signal the round over. His attempt counted, and he was the final driver to qualify when he bumped Alex Tagliani from the field in what he called “horrendous drama.”
He was back in that position on Bump Day last year, and it didn’t work in his favor: Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick made the race, but Hunter-Reay and Mike Conway did not as the four teammates battled each other for spots in the field. Strategy called for Hunter-Reay to again wait until the closing moments of the session to make his final attempt, but this time he didn’t beat the gun.
Hunter-Reay had sponsor appearances the next day in Dallas, which he painfully fulfilled while having to explain to anyone who asked why he wasn’t in the Indy 500. Hours later, he learned Andretti had bought out an A.J. Foyt ride, essentially paying Hunter-Reay’s way into the race.
“Last year was the most stressful month of my life, really something I don’t want to repeat again,” he said. “I can’t even explain the stress level and how much it consumes you, just how much is riding on it all. It was unfortunate. But we learned a lot, and it really gave us a kick in the pants.”
That was evident as the Andretti oval program improved over the season, and Hunter-Reay picked up his only win of the season three months later at New Hampshire. But he improved from 23rd in the standings to seventh by the time the season ended, and the 31-year-old American vowed to race differently in 2012.
This year is about both Indianapolis, and staying in contention for the season title.
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