Ryan Hunter-Reay finished third at Pocono Raceway, but felt it should have been a much better result for the Andretti Autosport squad after twice being forced to come through the field during Monday’s 500-mile race.
The American driver started at the back of the field after failing to set a time during qualifying due to a practice crash, but had brought himself into contention only to lose all the ground and more due to a technical gremlin that forced him onto pit lane.
Having lost a lap, Hunter-Reay looked likely to struggle to regain that time, but received a lucky break when he recovered the lap due to a well-timed caution period, and then drove strongly to claim the podium position on the penultimate lap by passing Josef Newgarden.
“I had to come through the field twice,” said an ultimately disappointed Hunter-Reay. “It’s heartbreaking. This the type of year it’s been for us. Really heart breaking.
“The No. 28 DHL Honda really deserved to be in contention for the win there at the end. Going through Turn 2 it just shut off. I cycled the car once, nothing happened and then I got on pit lane and cycled it again. Power cycle.
“It turns off then it re-fired and we were a lap down. The car was a rocket ship. It’s a shame.”