Last year’s Indy 500 defeat “hurt more than anything” for Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ryan Hunter-Reay had several restless nights after a chance at victory faded in last year’s Indianapolis 500.

A year ago, the Floridian was contesting a one-off effort with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. He led 48 laps and was in a proper fight for the win. However, the decision to extend the stint before his final pit stop proved to be a fraction too far. While leading, he was called to pit lane with 31 laps to go when a brief hiccup appeared off Turn 4. After coasting to his stall, his #23 Chevrolet was too starved of fuel to refire and he was left to finish 21st, and watch Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou go on to collect the victory. 

“It’s hurt more than anything I think I’ve ever faced in my career,” said Hunter-Reay, 45.

And a lot of that pain isn’t just for how close Hunter-Reay got to a second win at the Brickyard, it was the work that took place before it. On Carb Day, the Friday before the race, he suffered a fire that forced the team into a significant process to prepare a new car nearly from scratch.

“To put it on track on race day for the first time going through Turn 1, it ever having been driven in anger and then to be in the spot to win the Indy 500, it was going to be a story like this year’s (Kentucky) Derby.

“And to just get that close, considering when you look at the timing of scoring, I would have come out in front of Palou with two lapped cars between me and him. That would have been a position that I had the experience to manage. And the key point is everything I’m saying is ‘would have,’ right? 

“It’s racing. We got a little greedy on the fuel. We went an extra lap that we shouldn’t have.

And I knew when I came through Turn 4 to that last stop, I felt it cough and fall on its face. I knew we were done at that point. The engine continued to run at low pressure on the stop, but once I touched the throttle pedal, it was day over.”

Overall, the way everything fell apart was something Hunter-Reay was haunted with, too.

“I didn’t sleep”

“Yeah, I didn’t sleep,” he said. “I probably slept two hours a night for the next four after that. Just honestly thinking of what that would have been, that story that would have been, and seeing my family in Victory Lane, and man, just the emotions behind it, because everybody was just absolutely wrecked before we went into the race.”

Now, Hunter-Reay will try to put that behind him in this latest one-off behind the wheel of the #31 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren, teaming alongside full-time regulars Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, and Nolan Siegel. 

“It’s a great opportunity,” Hunter-Reay said. “No matter what, no matter how much preparation goes into it for a one-off, there’s always going to be challenges. It’s just tough to put a group of people together one time a year in the biggest race in the world (and) to put the car on track for the first time and have everything go completely smoothly.” 

Which is evident after electrical issues through the opening two days of practice hindered on-track running.

“Right now we’re a day behind,” he said. “We had some electrical issues on day one and we ran 20-something laps. So yeah, we’ve got our work cut out for us. But I’m kind of used to that as a one-off. We’re having to go through those teething issues on the first little bit. 

“I’m extremely confident and optimistic. One thing for certain, I think the strongest point of being here at Arrow McLaren is the resources, the people here. They’ll give me the best possible opportunity to win the race.”

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– The Motorsport.com Team

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