Sportsbook odds didn’t favor Ryan Hunter-Reay on Sunday at the Grand Prix of Long Beach but those that bet him at the offshore sportsbook were rewarded as he won his second career race in the Indy Racing League. Ryan Hunter-Reay started second and after lap 18 when he got past Will Power, he never looked back.
Sportsbook odds listed Power as the favorite but he made an early mistake and was never a factor. Hunter-Reay took the lead on the 18th lap after Power slowed. Hunter-Reay lost the lead after his two pit stops but that was just normal cycling through the pit stops. He quickly regained the lead each time and led 64 of 85 laps. Justin Wilson finished second while Power finished third. Scott Dixon was next in fourth. “I don’t know how it happened; it only happened once,” Power said about the slow down, “We made the best of a bad situation.” Power lead the points race by 42 over his Penske teammate Helio Castroneves, who finished seventh.
The first three races of the season in sportsbook odds had been won by Team Penske but Hunter-Reay ended that streak on Sunday. It was a big win for the Andretti team and teammate Tony Kanaan, who finished fifth, congratulated Hunter-Reay after the race. Long Beach was one of Hunter-Reay’s late mother’s favorite tracks and it is also where he met his fiancée. “It was like a home race for us,” said Hunter-Reay, “To win here is extra special to me.” There was probably not a driver who wanted to win at Long Beach more than Hunter-Reay. “The car was just so much fun to drive,” Hunter-Reay said, “This race is definitely for her (his mother). The No. 1 thing she loved was to see me racing."
Almost all of the drivers were happy for Hunter-Reay. Power said that he should be racing full time. He “deserves a full-time ride. I’m pretty certain he’ll get one.” Power said. The pressure will now be on owner Michael Andretti to get sponsorship. “I can assure you we’re going to work very hard to make it happen,” Andretti said.
Defending race champ Dario Franchitti was 12th in offshore sportsbook results in Sunday’s race. Danica Patrick continues to show that she is in auto racing more for the marketing than for her driving as she finished 16th. The IndyCar Series goes to Kansas Speedway next for a race on May 1st.