ED CARPENTER RACING NOTES: MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

(Image Courtesy of Ed Carpenter Racing)

15th: RINUS VEEKAY No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet
19th: RYAN HUNTER-REAY No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet

NEXT RACE: Streets of Toronto, July 16 (Peacock TV, 1:30 p.m. ET)

RYAN HUNTER-REAY, NO. 20 BITNILE.COM CHEVROLET

(Image Courtesy of INDYCAR Photo)

RYAN HUNTER-REAY, No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet, Finished 19th: “We had a really good start, we were up three positions in the first few corners. We pitted early on reds on the first stop and that just handcuffed us to fuel strategy the rest of the day. I’m not really sure what happened on the pit sequences, I didn’t get passed on track once but we got leapfrogged all day and ended up falling back a bit. We will go back and look at it, learn from it, grow from it and be better.” 

OF NOTE: 

• In his 18th NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Ryan Hunter-Reay started from 17th. He did not stay there long, moving up three positions in the first few corners. A first-lap caution then impeded his forward progress.
• The ensuing restart began to see cars get stretched out along the racetrack and decrease passing opportunities. Hunter-Reay made his first pit stop on Lap 22, switching an opening set of red Firestone Firehawks to blacks. 
• His second and final pit stop followed on Lap 51, where the No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet was outfitted with another set of black Firehawks to finish the race. Hunter-Reay was tasked with hitting a difficult fuel number near the conclusion of the race, but was able to hold off hard-charging cars behind him. He took the checkered flag in the 19th position. 

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 BITNILE.COM CHEVROLET

(Image Courtesy of INDYCAR Photo)

RINUS VEEKAY, No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet, Finished 15th: “It was a tough race, a lot of work. We were not fast enough. It is tough to pass here and track position is so important. We finished around where we qualified and I think it was that way for the majority of the field. We maximized what we had, but it was a day full of a lot of work with a pretty hard fuel save at the end. I am pretty happy with my execution, but not the result. We have to start doing better and we will work hard heading into Toronto!"

OF NOTE: 

• Rinus VeeKay started 16th and was immediately engaged in a three-wide battle for position. When the first and only caution flag of the race flew just a few corners into the event, VeeKay was up two spots. After starting on a set of alternate red Firestone Firehawks, he brought the No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet in after 20 laps for black tires and a full load of fuel.
• VeeKay cycled into the 15th position, near where he was running before his first stop. His second stint of the race was uneventful, and he stayed in that spot until his second stop on Lap 49. Again, he cycled out into 15th. 
• With four laps to go, VeeKay was involved in another three-wide battle, this time heading down the front stretch. He was pushed off-line by another competitor, allowing a car behind to get a run. VeeKay managed to maintain the position and finished in 15th.