(Andre Penner/ Associated Press ) – IndyCar driver Will Power, of Australia, right, celebrates his victory at the winner’s podium with Ryan Hunter-Reay, of the U.S, who places second, in the IndyCar Sao Paulo 300, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, April 29, 2012.
By Associated Press, Sunday, April 29, 5:58 PM
“We are certainly focusing on the championship this year, we are points-racing and we’ve done a good job at that this year so far,” he said. “Last year at this time I think we were 20th in points heading into Indianapolis.”
Hunter-Reay came into Brazil in sixth place and moved to fourth with his solid run with Andretti Autosport.
“That’s the way we wanted to start the season and if we just keep consistently finishing on the podium, finishing in the top five like we have been, then I think everything will be very good with three or four races left to go. So we take it one lap at a time, one race at a time.”
The American also finished on the podium in the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, then was 12th in Alabama and sixth in Long Beach two weeks ago.
Hunter-Reay also was second in the inaugural Sao Paulo 300 in 2010.
“As a team, we absolutely love this track,” he said. “We’ve been very good here every time we come. It’s been a strong event for us, and once again, we were pretty strong today.”
Power was the one who beat him in 2010 too, and Hunter-Reay says the Australian will be the driver to beat for the championship this year after winning three of the first four races.
“If it weren’t for Will Power, I’d have a quite a few more wins on my resume, for sure, so I’m not happy about it,” Hunter-Reay said. “But we need to beat him. That’s the bottom line and we’re trying our best. They’ve got something working right now, and they’re taking advantage of it.”