134 Facts About Ryan Hunter-Reay

1.

Ryan Christopher Hunter-Reay was born on December 17,1980) is a professional American racing driver best known as a winner of both the Indianapolis 500 (2014 and and the IndyCar Series championship in 2012.

2.

In each accomplishment, Hunter-Reay became the first American to win since Sam Hornish Jr.

3.

Ryan Hunter-Reay won in the defunct Champ Car World Series twice and the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

4.

Ryan Hunter-Reay last drove for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series.

5.

When Ryan Hunter-Reay initially joined Andretti for 2010, he was only signed to drive for a partial season.

6.

Additional sponsorship was found and Ryan Hunter-Reay drove the entire season for Andretti.

7.

Ryan Hunter-Reay has since won both the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon IndyCar Series championship.

8.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, who lost his mother to colon cancer in 2009, acts a spokesman on behalf of Racing for Cancer, an advocacy organization.

9.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then won a shootout against Formula Dodge drivers for the Skip Barber Big Scholarship and its $250,000 prize.

10.

Ryan Hunter-Reay began to compete in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1998.

11.

Ryan Hunter-Reay first competed in the race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

12.

Ryan Hunter-Reay returned to the series later in the season at the race at Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex.

13.

Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 21st place and finished in 22nd place after retiring due to damage to his car after 4 laps.

14.

Ryan Hunter-Reay scored no points towards the championship and finished 40th in the final point standings.

15.

At the season-opening race at Sebring International Raceway Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 9th place and finished in 8th place.

16.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish during the season was a 4th-place finish at the race at Lime Rock Park.

17.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would have a pair of 2nd-place finishes at the races at Sebring International Raceway and Lime Rock Park.

18.

Ryan Hunter-Reay began to compete in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, at the time the main development series for the FedEx CART Championship Series, in 2002.

19.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would start in 6th place and retire to finish in 23rd place.

20.

At the second race of the season, on the Streets of Long Beach Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 2nd place and finished in 18th place after having the fastest lap of the race.

21.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would retire from the race to finish in 19th place.

22.

At the sixth race of the season, at Chicago Motor Speedway, Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 6th place and led the most laps and had the fastest lap of the race to win his second race of the season.

23.

At the seventh race of the season, at Exhibition Place, Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 7th place and finished in 4th place.

24.

At the tenth race of the season, at Road America, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 8th and retired from the race to finish in 24th place.

25.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then started 6th and finished 22nd at the following race, at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

26.

At the following race of the season, the season-ending race at the Pepsi Center, Ryan Hunter-Reay retired from the race and finished in an unknown position.

27.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished out the season ranked in 6th place in the final point standings with 102 points.

28.

Five races later at the season-ending Lexmark Indy 300 at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit Ryan Hunter-Reay started from twelfth place and would make his first of three mandatory pit stops to get slick tires as the track was changing from wet to dry in various parts of the track.

29.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would go on to win his first Champ Car race.

30.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish in the remaining races was a 4th at the Grand Prix of Road America at Road America.

31.

Ryan Hunter-Reay charged up through the field to get fourth place while Vasser finished eighth.

32.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish during the season was a pair of 6th-place finishes at the Molson Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place and at Denver.

33.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was 14th in points following the Las Vegas event and would drop to 15th in points after the last two races of the season with 110 points.

34.

Ryan Hunter-Reay began to drive for Rahal Letterman Racing in the No 17 Honda for the final six races of the season as a replacement for the released Jeff Simmons.

35.

Ryan Hunter-Reay made his series debut at the Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

36.

At the following race, the Firestone Indy 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 12th in the race and had to make a pit stop to replace his damaged helmet.

37.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best start of the season was a 5th at the Detroit Indy Grand Prix at Belle Isle State Park, where he finished 18th due to clutch problems after 24 laps.

38.

At the season-opening Gainsco Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 9th and finished 7th.

39.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish in the remaining races of 2008 was a 6th at the Detroit Indy Grand Prix at Belle Isle State Park.

40.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished out the season ranked 8th in points with 360 points.

41.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was able to requalify, bumping Alex Tagliani by 0.0324 seconds.

42.

Ryan Hunter-Reay started 32nd after Tagliani replaced teammate Bruno Junqueira in his qualified car.

43.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's only top 10 start of the season for either Vision or Foyt was a 7th at Mid-Ohio.

44.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was 10th in points following his split from Vision.

45.

In 2010 Ryan Hunter-Reay began to drive for Andretti Autosport in a part-time schedule that would consist of all races through the Indianapolis 500.

46.

At the season-opening Sao Paulo Indy 300 on the Streets of Sao Paulo Ryan Hunter-Reay started 4th and would lead for 20 laps, only to be passed by Will Power on lap 58 of 61.

47.

Three races later at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach Ryan Hunter-Reay started 2nd, set the fastest race lap and led for 64 of 85 laps to win the race.

48.

At the next race, the RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 22nd and finished 5th.

49.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish following Indianapolis was a 3rd at the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place.

50.

At the third race of the season, the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach Ryan Hunter-Reay started 2nd and led for 2 laps.

51.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was on his way to a respectable finish when he suffered gearbox problems.

52.

At the following race, the Sao Paulo Indy 300 on the Streets of Sao Paulo Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 2nd place.

53.

At the start of the race Ryan Hunter-Reay's steering failed and as a result Ryan Hunter-Reay drove straight into a sign along the track.

54.

On Bump Day Ryan Hunter-Reay was bumped from the field by teammate Marco Andretti with 55 seconds left in qualifying.

55.

Foyt Enterprises for Ryan Hunter-Reay to replace Bruno Junqueira in his already-qualified car.

56.

At the following race, the Milwaukee 225 at the Milwaukee Mile Ryan Hunter-Reay started 7th and crashed on the first lap, finishing in 26th place.

57.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then started and finished 8th at the following race, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway.

58.

At the following race of the season, the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place Ryan Hunter-Reay started 8th and finished 3rd to get his first podium of the year.

59.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then got another podium at the following race, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a 3rd after starting 5th.

60.

Ryan Hunter-Reay inherited the lead when several other drivers who had led the race, such as Dario Franchitti and Takuma Sato, were involved in crashes.

61.

On lap 220 of 225 Ryan Hunter-Reay was leading Oriol Servia when the race was restarted and almost immediately teammate Danica Patrick spun due to the rain and collected several cars making the race go back to a caution.

62.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's best finish following the New Hampshire race was a 5th at the Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

63.

At the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg on the Streets of St Petersburg Ryan Hunter-Reay started and finished 3rd.

64.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then finished 2nd three races later at the Sao Paulo Indy 300 on the Streets of Sao Paulo.

65.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then started 6th and finished 7th at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix at Belle Isle State Park and started 13th and finished 21st due fuel injector problems at the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway.

66.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then won three consecutive races with the Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway and the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place.

67.

Ryan Hunter-Reay lost the points lead following the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he started 7th and finished 24th out of 25 cars due to an engine problem after 79 of 85 laps.

68.

At the following race Ryan Hunter-Reay took the championship battle to the final race of the season after he won the Grand Prix of Baltimore on the Streets of Baltimore.

69.

Ryan Hunter-Reay now had to finish in 5th place or better.

70.

Ryan Hunter-Reay gradually moved up through the field and into the top 5 to move into the championship lead.

71.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was able to avoid Sato just as Ed Carpenter passed Dario Franchitti for the lead.

72.

Carpenter would win the race while Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 4th and won both the overall and the oval championships.

73.

Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American to win the series championship since Sam Hornish Jr.

74.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 2nd in the Mario Andretti Road Course Championship with 300 points compared to Power's 379.

75.

Ryan Hunter-Reay re-signed with Andretti for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

76.

On December 5, Ryan Hunter-Reay announced that he would use car number 1 in 2013.

77.

At the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg on the Streets of St Petersburg Ryan Hunter-Reay started 8th and retired after 79 laps due to throttle issues to finish 18th.

78.

At the next race, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach, Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 24th due to a crash after starting 2nd.

79.

On lap 193 Ryan Hunter-Reay took the lead and maintained it while the race was under caution for a crash by Graham Rahal.

80.

The race finished under caution with Ryan Hunter-Reay finishing 3rd behind Kanaan and Munoz.

81.

At the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 3rd and finished 2nd after leading for 35 laps.

82.

At the Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile Ryan Hunter-Reay started 4th and won the race after leading for 65 laps in a race promoted by Ryan Hunter-Reay's car owner Michael Andretti.

83.

At the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 12th and finished 2nd to teammate James Hinchcliffe.

84.

At the Pocono IndyCar 400 fueled by Sunoco at Pocono Raceway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 2nd on a front row sweep of Andretti cars with Marco Andretti on the pole position and Hinchcliffe in 3rd.

85.

On lap 63 Ryan Hunter-Reay was entering the pit lane when Takuma Sato was attempting to slow down and locked up his brakes.

86.

At the season-ending MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships at Auto Club Speedway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 11th and led for 45 laps.

87.

Ryan Hunter-Reay later had mechanical issues and as a result Ryan Hunter-Reay dropped eight laps down.

88.

At the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg on the Streets of St Petersburg Ryan Hunter-Reay started 3rd and finished 2nd.

89.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then attempted to pass for the eventual lead.

90.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then won the following race, the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park after starting 3rd and leading for a race-high 40 laps.

91.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then finished 2nd at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

92.

At the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix twin races at Belle Isle State Park Ryan Hunter-Reay started 21st in each race.

93.

At the following race, the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 12th and finished 19th due to an engine fire after 136 laps.

94.

At the Pocono IndyCar 500 at Pocono Raceway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 9th and had mechanical problems early in the race.

95.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's team was able to repair the issue and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 18th, nineteen laps down.

96.

At the following race, the Iowa Corn Indy 300 at Iowa Speedway, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 13th and was running in the top 10.

97.

On lap 299 Ryan Hunter-Reay passed Kanaan, who had dominated the race up to that point, for the lead.

98.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would go on to win the race after leading for only 2 laps in what would be Ryan Hunter-Reay's first lead lap finish of the season since winning the Indianapolis 500.

99.

At the following race of the season, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Ryan Hunter-Reay started 5th and spun out on lap 37.

100.

At the following race, the Wisconsin 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, Ryan Hunter-Reay had a poor qualifying performance and would start in 19th place due to the set up of the car being different than in practice.

101.

At the following race, the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 10th after having the fastest lap speed in the first practice session and the 3rd fastest lap speed in the second session.

102.

At the season-ending MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships at Auto Club Speedway Ryan Hunter-Reay started 9th and led for 26 laps.

103.

On lap 175 Ryan Hunter-Reay spun while coming out of turn 4.

104.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was able to continue and would finish in 16th place.

105.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would represent the United States with Phil Giebler and Jonathan Summerton for A1 Team USA in a team entered by West Surrey Racing.

106.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was originally going to make his debut in the series at the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Beijing, China on the Beijing International Streetcircuit.

107.

The track was eventually changed and Ryan Hunter-Reay never got to drive in the event.

108.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would make his debut at the sixth round of the season, the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, New Zealand at Taupo Motorsport Park.

109.

Tucker and Ryan Hunter-Reay were going to drive the car at the following race, the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach on the Streets of Long Beach.

110.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 4th in the LMP2 drivers standings with 30 points while Level 5 Motorsports won the LMP2 teams championship with 130 points.

111.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was unranked in the P2 driver's standings and finished 27th in the GT drivers standings with 7 points.

112.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 10th in the P2 drivers standings and Level 5 Motorsports won the P2 teams championship with 199 points.

113.

At both the USSportscar Invitational at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and The GAINSCO Grand Prix at Phoenix International Raceway Ryan Hunter-Reay's co-driver was Ian James and the Rolex GT Series Challenge at Lime Rock Park with Mark Greenburg.

114.

At Lime Rock the field consisted only of GT cars and Ryan Hunter-Reay started in 18th place and retired after 11 laps and finished in 18th place.

115.

Ryan Hunter-Reay drove the car in three other races, all without sponsorship.

116.

At the Emco Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Ryan Hunter-Reay drove with the same drivers to start in 17th place.

117.

Ryan Hunter-Reay returned to the series at the season-ending Discount Tire Sunchaser 1000 at Miller Motorsports Park Ryan Hunter-Reay drove with the same drivers to start in 19th place both overall and in its class.

118.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 36th in the DP drivers standings with 92 points.

119.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 34th in the DP drivers standings with 47 points.

120.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 34th in the DP drivers championship with 36 points.

121.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then drove at the second race of the season, the Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in the same car, with additional sponsorship from US Bank, Spirit Jets, Drive Digital Medi and Supercar Life.

122.

Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 33rd in the DP drivers championship with 20 points.

123.

Ryan Hunter-Reay began to compete in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship after the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series merged in 2013.

124.

Ryan Hunter-Reay then competed in the second race of the season, the 12 Hours of Sebring.

125.

Ryan Hunter-Reay drove the same car with the same co-drivers from Daytona.

126.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would compete in the season-ending Petit Le Mans in the same car with Kuno Wittmer and Goosens.

127.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was invited to compete in the Race of Champions in 2012.

128.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was the only driver to compete to represent the IndyCar Series and would be the first driver since Bertrand Baguette in 2010 to represent the series.

129.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was part of the Americas team with Mexican driver Benito Guerra Jr.

130.

Ryan Hunter-Reay would compete against David Coulthard and the two each raced in KTM X-Bows.

131.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is married to ex-Champ Car World Series pit reporter, and off-road racing driver, Beccy Gordon, sister of former Champ Car World Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Verizon IndyCar Series driver and car owner Robby Gordon.

132.

Ryan Hunter-Reay owns a Yellowfin Yachts 42-foot yacht named Inside Line which he uses on his fishing trips.

133.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was featured on the NBC Sports Network television series IndyCar 36.

134.

The episode was broadcast prior to the 2012 Sao Paulo Indy 300 on the Streets of Sao Paulo, where Ryan Hunter-Reay finished in 2nd place to Will Power, on April 29,2012.