INDIANAPOLIS — Andretti Autosport officials confirmed Tuesday that Ryan Hunter-Reay will not continue to drive for the operation’s NTT IndyCar Series team next season.
The announcement, which was not unexpected, was made on social media with the release of a video thanking Hunter-Reay for his service, with team owner Michael Andretti and officials from longtime sponsor extending gratitude to the 40-year-old California driver.
This is Hunter-Reay’s 12th season with the team and 10th with DHL sponsorship. He won the 2012 IndyCar Series championship and the 2014 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Andretti Autosport, while also scoring 15 victories with the team.
“What started as three races in 2010 grew to over a decade of successes. Through 12 seasons Andretti Autosport, DHL and Ryan Hunter-Reay climbed mountains. We claimed a championship and captured victory on racing’s biggest stage. And now, over the next two weekends, Ryan will turn his last laps as our IndyCar teammate. Thank you, Ryan, for 12 great seasons with us: 15 wins together, an Indy 500 victory and an IndyCar title. Always a champion, always a friend. Wishing you the best of luck in the laps ahead,” read the Andretti Autosport social media post.
Hunter-Reay was featured in the September issue of SPEED SPORT magazine and commented on the fact his contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
“Things have not been good as a whole and not as strong as we need them to be as a whole,” Hunter-Reay admitted. “We are here to win races. That is the only thing we are here to do. Like Michael Andretti (team owner) said, I agree, there needs to be a change up or mix up. I’ve been with the team for 12 years now and I think sometimes even a shakeup or fresh start does really well for all types of sports. I’m in agreement with him there.
“When it comes down to it, I’m here week-in and week-out trying to win races, but haven’t really got there to where does this stand, or where does that stand?
“I definitely know that I have wins left in me, especially Indy 500 wins and that is something that I will be focused on. Right now, I’m focused on the next race.”