June, 01 – Race 1:
Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay led the way for Andretti Autosport today and recorded his third top-three finish of the season.
Hunter-Reay earned enough points to advance to second in the championship points fight. Today’s Dual One in Detroit marked the fifth consecutive race where Hunter-Reay has been a lap leader; he led 20 laps on his way to a second-place finish. “The DHL Chevy was great, but on the middle stint on [Firestone alternate red tires] we just fell out of it. We completely had no grip. I’m not sure if we were just using up the tires too much. Mike [Conway] did a great job. He was flying. We were as quick as him on the black tires, and on those laps few laps — I should say those last 10 laps — of the race we were reeling him in by about two seconds a lap… it just wasn’t enough. He has such a big lead from that middle stint. Great job to the (Dale) Coyne guys, and heck a job to Mike coming right back in and winning a race. It’s tough. We really wanted to win it for Chevy, but we have another shot at it tomorrow.”
June, 02 – Race 2:
Ryan Hunter-Reay started Race 2 from the fourth position and was running third when he made contact with the track wall on Lap 16. The DHL Chevy was wheeled back to the garages for suspension and front wing replacement, the 32-year-old rejoined the race and now sits third in the championship points standings. “I just threw the race away; completely my fault,” Hunter-Reay said post-race. “I just tagged the right front on the entry wall at one of the corners here. That’s how it is with street circuits; when you mistake by an inch, it can cause you a race. The guys did an unbelievable job – we only lost 11 laps. The right front and right rear corner were damaged completely. To only lose 11 laps is just miraculous; they did a great job. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any more yellows to help us out.”
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