IndyCar Winner Spotlight: Ryan Hunter-Reay wins Race #2 in Detroit

By Benjamin Kuhl | Jun 4, 2018

AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 06: Ryan Hunter-Reay #28 driver of the Andretti Autosport Honda IndyCar (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Ryan Hunter-Reay managed to add his name to the list of IndyCar race winners this season by claiming the top spot in the second race of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit.

A win like the one Ryan Hunter-Reay pulled off in the second race of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit has been a long time coming, as his last win came back in 2015 when he won at Pocono. He also became the sixth different driver to win a race in the eight races contested so far during the 2018 IndyCar season.

Coming into the second race of the doubleheader weekend, Hunter-Reay was outside of the discussion for the most part, as he qualified for the second race back in 10th place in his #28 Andretti Autosport Honda. He was able to work well with his team to perform a three-stop pit strategy that would put him in clean air and give him the ability to run consistently fast lap times.

Andretti Autosport have seen a significant upturn in pace during this season and currently have three of their four drivers inside the top nine in the championship standings.

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The 37-year-old American driver had experienced a slump in competitiveness over the last couple of seasons, but he has found new energy with the new UAK18 aero kit. He sits fourth in the standings with 278 points. The 2012 IndyCar champion is looking to revive his career and add to his career IndyCar win total, which is now at 17.

While young guns Alexander Rossi and Robert Wickens were incredibly competitive in both races of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit, it seemed that age and experience are taking more and more of a priority.

Hunter-Reay was able to utilize smart strategy and understanding of what he needed to accomplish each stint to take advantage of Rossi, who flat spotted the tires on his #27 Andretti Autosport Honda while leading the race and trying to hold off Hunter-Reay with just seven laps to go. He ended up in the turn three runoff area as a result of this, and Hunter-Reay took the lead, which he did not give up from that point forward.

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IndyCar takes its next trip to the always exciting Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2018 DXC Technology. Will we see a familiar face in victory lane or will newcomer ascend to the top step of the podium? Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 8:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 9 to find out.