| A Valiant Effort by Ryan Ends in Frustration |
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Ryan Hunter-Reay re-bounded from two broken front wings and a drive-through penalty today. Hunter-Reay was sixth after the green flag but was forced to pit with a broken front wing. The #4 crew promptly changed the wing and Hunter-Reay received a penalty for passing Allemendinger under full-course caution. He returned to the track in the 15th and final position and immediately passed his way back to the 11th position but suffered another broken front wing. Again, the wing was changed and Hunter-Reay returned to the track in the 15th position. He charged through the field and was running third by the 42nd lap. The #4 crew gave Hunter-Reay flawless stops and a fantastic race strategy today, with just one lap to go he battled Jimmy Vasser for second position, but was hit from behind by Patrick Carpentier. After a fantastic drive, Hunter-Reay's #4 machine limped to the pits with a flat rear right tire; resulting in another pitstop. Hunter-Reay returned to the track and took the checkered flag in the eighth position.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, #4 Herdez/Lola/Ford-Cosworth Ryan on the day: "It was really an up and down day. It seemed like it was one crazy situation after another. We had to come in and change the front wing after the start. We had a decent re-start and then I passed down into turn one and I didn't know it was yellow, so we got a drive-through penalty for that. I had a good re-start made several passes and ended up damaging my front wing so we had to come in for that, two wings in 25 laps. We made our pitstops and legitimately worked our way up to third from the back of the field. I thought we had a podium and with just a lap to go, we got taken out by what was then the fourth place car and caused me to have a flat rear tire. I was hit so hard I could feel the car jump and I am luck I kept it off the wall. I am really disappointed because it was such a tough race and as a group we accomplished a lot. The strategy my team gave me was great, my crew had to work extra hard in the pits today and I drove to the front from the back of the field despite everything that happened, so I am proud of that." Keith Wiggins, Co-Owner/Managing Director: “Obviously it was a tough day. We really battled the whole race with Ryan and I think everybody did a fantastic job, the driver, the crew. We end up third and Carpentier takes us out, so obviously I am very upset." |
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