Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ryan Hunter-Reay is an experienced IndyCar driver who made his debut back in 2003. The American racer won one IndyCar championship (2012) and the Indy 500 (2014).

The ladder to the IndyCar Series

Ryan Hunter-Reay achieved significant success in karting with six American titles, after which he logically progressed to the Skip Barber Formula Dodge. In this series, he became champion right away. In 2000 and 2001, Hunter-Reay competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, and in 2004, he took the next step on the ladder to Champ Car: Toyota Atlantic.

Champ Car debut

In his first season in the Atlantics, he finished sixth, with three wins. He made such an impression that in 2003, he was able to make his Champ Car debut with the newly formed American Spirit Team Johansson, teaming up with the experienced Jimmy Vasser. Despite the team’s limited financial resources and slower Reynard chassis, Hunter-Reay managed to secure a podium finish in Mid-Ohio and even claimed victory at Surfers Paradise under drying conditions.

Frequent team changes affected his performance

When American Spirit went bankrupt at the end of that year, the American driver moved to Herdez. He started the season strong and won dominantly in Milwaukee, but as the season progressed, he gradually fell back in the field. In 2005, he drove for Rocketsports, but the team proved uncompetitive, leaving Hunter-Reay without a seat in 2006.

After competing in a few A1GP races and the 24 Hours of Daytona, Hunter-Reay replaced Jeff Simmons at Rahal-Letterman Racing for the final six races of the 2007 IndyCar season. He performed so well that he was offered a full-season drive with Rahal in 2008. However, turbulent times soon followed, as Rahal-Letterman Racing withdrew from the IndyCar Series.

Career saved by IZOD

A contract with IndyCar sponsor IZOD, which aimed to make Hunter-Reay the face of its brand within the series, saved his career. In 2009, he began the season with Vision Racing, but after the race in Texas, he replaced the injured Vitor Meira at AJ Foyt Racing. The IZOD deal led to a contract with Andretti Autosport the following year, where he initially signed on for a limited number of races. After finishing second in Brazil and winning in Long Beach, however, he quickly became the team’s top performer, earning him the opportunity to race the full season.

Championship and Indianapolis 500 victory

Following a successful first season with Andretti, his contract was extended. This culminated in Hunter-Reay winning his first and only IndyCar Series championship in 2012. In 2013, he had another strong season, with two wins and three second-place finishes, but ultimately ended the season seventh in the standings.

In 2014, Hunter-Reay completed another full season with Andretti Autosport. Although the title eluded him, he scored three wins, including the prestigious 98th Indianapolis 500. In 2015, a challenging season, he still managed to win two races. However, his victory at Pocono Raceway was overshadowed by the tragic death of teammate Justin Wilson, who succumbed to injuries sustained during the race.

Declining performances

In 2018, Hunter-Reay returned to winning ways with victories in Detroit and Sonoma, finishing fourth in the championship standings. However, in the following years, his performance declined sharply, with 2021 being a low point as he finished in the top ten only three times. Andretti Autosport chose not to renew his contract.

Comeback with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

After not competing in 2022, Hunter-Reay returned to the IndyCar Series in 2023. He raced the Indy 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, finishing eleventh. This result opened the door to Ed Carpenter Racing, where he replaced the dismissed Conor Daly. While he helped improve the team’s car setups, his best personal result was a tenth-place finish.

In 2024, Hunter-Reay returned to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the Indy 500. He impressed by qualifying for the Fast 12 with this part-time team. A promising result seemed within reach until a collision with Scott Dixon forced him to retire from the race. However, his performances earned him a seat for the 2025 Indy 500, again with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.