Ryan Hunter-Reay to fill in for Vitor Meira..

[Schwartz Fan]

Driver transfer
By Dave Lewandowski - Indycar.com
Friday, June 12, 2009


Ryan Hunter-Reay is used to being on the move. Now the Florida native will be moving from the No. 21 Vision Racing car to an ABC Supply Co./A.J. Foyt Racing entry for the remainder of the IndyCar Series season.

Hunter-Reay, who registered a second-place finish in the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., and is 10th in the championship standings, will debut for A.J. Foyt Racing in the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer on June 21.

Paul Tracy (Milwaukee) and A.J. Foyt IV (Texas) drove the car as temporary replacements for Vitor Meira, who is recovering from a back injury suffered in the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. Meira is projected to return for the final race of the season in October -- at Homestead-Miami Speedway - and the team is expected to field two entries.


"Vitor is a friend and I know all of the drivers are wishing him a speedy recovery," Hunter-Reay said. "I am really looking forward to this new partnership with A.J. Foyt Racing and I will do my absolute best to help deliver the results we are all hoping to achieve."

Hunter-Reay, 28, who recorded his first IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International last July, has 14 top-10 finishes overall in 29 starts.

"We're glad to welcome Ryan to our team," Foyt said. "It's been a tough year for us losing Vitor, but we're looking forward to working with Ryan. We know how good he is because he beat us at Watkins Glen last year (Darren Manning finishing second)."

Days before the start of the season, Vision Racing announced the addition of Hunter-Reay to the lineup as a teammate for Ed Carpenter. The No. 21 entry received primary sponsorship from IndyCar Series promotional partner IZOD for the Indianapolis 500 and at The Milwaukee Mile.

"We knew there would be challenges bringing Ryan on board at such a late juncture, but we did so knowing the benefits it would have to our program on the long term," Vision Racing co-owner Tony George said. "My commitment remains with keeping Ryan Hunter-Reay in the series and with Vision Racing for the long term. We had high hopes that we'd be able to attract the primary sponsorship necessary to continue through the course of the season and into the future. While those efforts have been rewarded with some positive developments and opportunities, which we are actively pursuing and developing, it did not provide for the short-terms needs and our ability to ensure a successful program for the balance of the season."

Hunter-Reay debuted in the IndyCar Series in July 2007 with Rahal Letterman Racing, advancing three positions to finish seventh at Mid-Ohio. A sixth place in the 2008 Indianapolis 500 earned Hunter-Reay the Chase Rookie of the Year Award.

"We all have the big picture in mind for Vision's future, and that is not only to find our way to Victory Circle but for Vision to have a program that is capable of challenging for the championship," Hunter-Reay said. "As competitive as the Indy Racing League is today, those goals require a strong commitment not only by the team but also by sponsors and partners.

"In the very short time I have been at Vision their efforts in developing sponsorship and B2B opportunities have yielded positive results which have laid a strong foundation we intend to build on. Knowing what I know today, I am optimistic of continuing with Vision in 2010 with a strong program."

Vision Racing, which re-evaluated its program following the Indianapolis 500, will suspend operation of the No. 21 entry for the season. Carpenter drives the No. 20 Menards/Johns Manville/Lilly car and the team competes in Firestone Indy Lights with driver James Davison.

"Following the Texas race, it became clear that this could be a reasonable solution to a number of challenges and it needed consideration," George said. "A.J. Foyt and I spoke candidly about what Ryan had to offer. We all feel Ryan will be able to contribute to their program and provide continuity for the rest of the season while they await Vitor's return."


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