Performance Physixx and Andretti Autosport Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay made an awesome start to his 2012 Indy Car Season at St Pete this last weekend……
With all three cars qualifying in the top-eight. When Sunday’s green flag fell, the strong showing continued, with Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe and Marco Andretti all running in the top-five for the first half of the 100-lap race. As several yellow flags fell, the field was jumbled by a variety of pit strategies, and all of the Andretti teams opted to gamble on a two pit stop strategy, banking on the fuel economy of the new V6 twin-turbocharged Chevrolet engines.
The gamble paid off as Ryan Hunter-Reay and the DHL/Sun Drop No. 28 team raced home to a third-place finish behind race winner Helio Castroneves and second-place Scott Dixon. Following close behind Hunter-Reay was Hinchcliffe in his debut with the GoDaddy.com No. 27 team. As the race neared an end, Marco Andretti was forced to pit for a splash of fuel, which dropped him to a 14th-place finish.
“We had the right strategy today, and we gambled on making two pit stops with the DHL/Sun Drop Chevrolet,” said Hunter-Reay on pit lane. “I thought we had a really fast car, especially later in the run when the tires were worn, and I think we could have really challenged for the win if we weren’t saving so much fuel, but it was absolutely the right strategy. I was happy that the new Chevy engine got great fuel mileage, and I’m glad to see them power three of the top-four finishers today.
“The top-three finish is great – the points are worth just as much here as they are in the last race of the year. We’re really racing with points in mind this year, and our total focus is on the championship. If we run with the top-three each time, we’re going to be in the right position for race wins and a championship.
All of the competitors were mindful of this being the first race since the passing of past IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon.
“It was a beautiful day in St. Pete, and I think that’s fitting on a day when we remembered and honored Dan Wheldon,” said Hunter-Reay. “This was his home town – his adopted home – and I know he was with us every lap.”