“It was a good race, it was tough getting the fuel number and trying to keep the pace up, but it was a lot of fun when it started raining, trying to find the grip again and searching around. I was almost worried that I was going to burn the front [tires] off. We came in early for the wet [tires]. I stayed out there as long as I could but, on the slicks, I was a lot quicker, and it was that inconsistent snap that you have. When you have one of those [snaps] with the slicks you can absolutely loose it completely, so we thought that was the best time to come in and grab the Firestone wets. It was good from there. I just needed a little bit more time to cut in on Newgarden’s lead. Congratulations to Team Penske and [Josef] Newgarden. Great job by the DHL guys this weekend. We rolled off the truck, we weren’t that happy with the car and we kept working on it methodically, chipping into it and everybody just executed it – so a good weekend overall.”
- STARTED: 4th // RESTARTED: 3rd // FINISHED: 2nd
- CHAMPIONSHIP: 6th (113 pts.)
- OF NOTE: Earned his third podium at Barber Motorsports Park, his 39th IndyCar career podium finish
The ninth annual Indy car race on Barber’s 2.3-mile permanent road course began Sunday in rainy conditions that grew progressively worse and substantially limited driver visibility. A pair of full-course cautions preceded the first of two red-flag stoppages for declining track conditions on Lap 19.
Following a 37-minute delay, engines were restarted and the field completed four laps under caution behind the pace car before they were ordered into the pit lane once more. After nearly 90 minutes waiting out the rain, INDYCAR deemed the track lost for the day and announced postponement of the completion until Monday – with 75 minutes remaining on the race clock.
Sunday’s continuation began on Lap 24 with formation laps starting the time clock until the green flag flew on Lap 27. Rain late in the race threw strategies for a loop and it was DHL driver Ryan Hunter-Reay coming out on top for Andretti Autosport.
From here the Verizon IndyCar Series heads back home again to Indiana to being preparations for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.
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