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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Hunter-Reay Chooses Andretti Over Penske
After being wooed by Team Penske, SPEED can report that Hunter-Reay has declined Roger Penske’s offer and re-upped with Andretti Autosport.
Ryan Hunter-Reay has a lot to smile about--and the weight of a major decision off his shoulders--heading into Saturday night's championship decider in Fontana. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Ryan Hunter-Reay is staying with the team that rescued his career.
After being wooed by Team Penske, SPEED can report that Hunter-Reay has declined Roger Penske’s offer and re-upped with Andretti Autosport.
“It came together late but it’s done and we’ve signed Ryan to a multiple-year deal,” said John Lopes, the president of Andretti Motorsports Marketing, on the eve of Saturday night’s season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
“We came into this weekend with two major goals – keep our team together and win the championship so we’ve already accomplished one of them.”
As first reported on SPEED.com two weeks ago, Team Penske had approached Hunter-Reay about replacing Ryan Briscoe after making a pitch to Simon Pagenaud, who had to decline because of his iron-clad contract with Sam Schmidt.
But it wasn’t a slam dunk that RHR would go with the most successful team in Indy car racing history.
Michael Andretti had thrown the 31-year-old veteran a lifeline in 2010 when his open wheel career was adrift and Hunter-Reay felt immense loyalty to the former CART star who had kept him in the car despite not having the proper funding.
“It’s been a pretty intense period for the past couple weeks,” acknowledged Lopes. “We heard some things about Penske and Ryan talking but didn’t know the details. I did know we were pretty far down the road with our sponsors and this whole deal had become a big distraction.
“So it’s the night before the championship and we wanted to get the word out that Ryan was staying right here.”
READ: Ryan Hunter-Reay’s Scripted Life
Hunter-Reay trails Will Power by 17 points going into the 500-mile finale on the 2-mile oval.
“It was very important to Michael to keep this team intact and it’s safe to say our sponsors love Ryan and what’s happened with this team the past couple years,” said Lopes, with DHL and Sun Drop expected to return as RHR’s primary sponsors.
“We think with Marco (Andretti), Hinch (James Hinchcliffe) and Ryan we’ve got a great future ahead of us and we’re glad to get this deal done.”
Hunter-Reay later issued a statement through the team: "I have a lot of deep rooted relationships with the team and the team sponsors and I'm looking forward to continuing and further developing those relationships. I'm happy to be able to enjoy the off season knowing what the next two years hold. I'm looking forward to my return with Andretti Autosport and hope to have the opportunity to speak more on it soon, but today we are focused on leaving Fontana tonight with a championship."
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Fontana Season Finale 2012
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
After being wooed by Team Penske, SPEED can report that Hunter-Reay has declined Roger Penske’s offer and re-upped with Andretti Autosport.
“It came together late but it’s done and we’ve signed Ryan to a multiple-year deal,” said John Lopes, the president of Andretti Motorsports Marketing, on the eve of Saturday night’s season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
“We came into this weekend with two major goals – keep our team together and win the championship so we’ve already accomplished one of them.”
As first reported on SPEED.com two weeks ago, Team Penske had approached Hunter-Reay about replacing Ryan Briscoe after making a pitch to Simon Pagenaud, who had to decline because of his iron-clad contract with Sam Schmidt.
But it wasn’t a slam dunk that RHR would go with the most successful team in Indy car racing history.
Michael Andretti had thrown the 31-year-old veteran a lifeline in 2010 when his open wheel career was adrift and Hunter-Reay felt immense loyalty to the former CART star who had kept him in the car despite not having the proper funding.
“It’s been a pretty intense period for the past couple weeks,” acknowledged Lopes. “We heard some things about Penske and Ryan talking but didn’t know the details. I did know we were pretty far down the road with our sponsors and this whole deal had become a big distraction.
“So it’s the night before the championship and we wanted to get the word out that Ryan was staying right here.”
READ: Ryan Hunter-Reay’s Scripted Life
Hunter-Reay trails Will Power by 17 points going into the 500-mile finale on the 2-mile oval.
“It was very important to Michael to keep this team intact and it’s safe to say our sponsors love Ryan and what’s happened with this team the past couple years,” said Lopes, with DHL and Sun Drop expected to return as RHR’s primary sponsors.
“We think with Marco (Andretti), Hinch (James Hinchcliffe) and Ryan we’ve got a great future ahead of us and we’re glad to get this deal done.”
Hunter-Reay later issued a statement through the team: "I have a lot of deep rooted relationships with the team and the team sponsors and I'm looking forward to continuing and further developing those relationships. I'm happy to be able to enjoy the off season knowing what the next two years hold. I'm looking forward to my return with Andretti Autosport and hope to have the opportunity to speak more on it soon, but today we are focused on leaving Fontana tonight with a championship."
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Fontana Season Finale 2012
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
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