"Winning that race was something I can't even start to describe!"
Ryan Hunter-Reay of Herdez Competition
By Margot Orenchuk
Photos courtesy the Champ Car World Series

VANCOUVER, Canada (April 1, 2004) -- It’s with pleasure we bring you an interview with one of Champ car’s great “ladder” success stories, America’s own Ryan Hunter-Reay. This young man, now 24, started driving in Skip Barber’s racing school, where he won the “Big Scholarship” after winning Skip Barber Formula Dodge National Championship Presented by RACER. Then on to the Barber Dodge racing series, where he won that series Rookie of the Year Award after finishing fifth in the championship. He earned two podiums, four top-five finishes and placed in the top-10 in 11 races! He then ran his 2^nd full season in the Barber Dodge series, winning two events and placing 5^th in the series, and then onto Toyota Atlantics, the last rung before the Big Boys! Where he tied for the lead with three wins in first season, claiming victory at Laguna Seca, Chicago and Cleveland, giving him wins on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary circuits in the same season. And in 2003 along came CART and ASTJ… and THE biggest challenge yet; strapping himself into the best car he had ever dreamed about driving! And in his very first year, he won the last race of the season. Ryan comes into 2004 and his second Champ Car year on a high and with a new team (Herdez) and a new team mate (Mario Dominguez). And in between testing, Ryan spoke to RFM about 2003 and what we can look forward to in the year to come.

Margot Orenchuk: Ryan, congratulations on your new ride. Will be doing any testing with your new team before Long Beach?

Ryan Hunter-Reay: Yes, I’ve been in the car four days at Sebring on two separate occasions as well as two days on the Fontana road circuit.

MO: How did your new ride come about?

RHR: Just after qualifying in Australia Herdez Managing Director, Keith Wiggins, approached me to let me know that he had his eye on me and wanted to talk. From there the relationship grew and I went to go visit the team in Indianapolis. From the first time I was there I could tell it was the team that I wanted to drive for.

MO: Describe “the bump” in Miami last year. How much of a toll physically did that race take on you?

RHR: “The Bump” was absolutely ridiculous. So big that every time I would drive over it my vision would go blurry as everything shook so violently. It was like taking a calculated risk each time through that part of the track…..especially on older tires…as the car would land right next to a concrete wall while cornering the rear tires would break loose very often. As the race progressed I gradually grew more and more irritated by this one piece of track that would continually attempt to throw me from my rhythm. I hope I never see a bump like that in an open wheel car again…….maybe rally.

MO: What is the worst thing that can happen to you to destroy your focus during a race?

RHR: Many things can attempt to destroy your focus, but a driver has to be strong about this. If you destroy your focus while driving 200+mph in an 800hp car between concrete walls you can be a danger to yourself and other drivers. That said... your focus can be distracted by pit strategy not quite working in your favor compared to the rest of the field, mechanical problems, or if you’re water bottle doesn’t work!

MO: What is you favorite off-track activity?

RHR: Surfing and Boating (Scuba Diving)

MO: Who is your racing hero?

RHR: I followed many greats coming up so I don’t have just one. To add to that I feel that I have to bring myself to that level at this point because of where I am and the competition that surrounds me. I think Michael Schumacher is a machine. He is the best racing driver in the world by far…every aspect. There may be some out there with more raw speed, but he has all the bases covered.

Alex Zanardi is a true hero. That man blows my mind. Excellent.

MO: Which track that you visited do you think suited the car and your driving style best? What do you like about that track?

RHR: Mid-Ohio! The track is fast and gives the driver no time to rest so it’s extremely physical and demands tremendous focus. The whole team came together that weekend and we pulled an honest podium out of the hat with an old car and an under funded team. That may be the last time a Reynard ever sees the podium in a straight up green race. The track suited the car and I was on it for sure. I took advantage of an opportunity I wasn’t sure was going to come…..that was the underdog story of the year for sure.

MO: What has been the oddest thought you have had while driving?

RHR: I don’t think of anything else. On a cool down lap here or there some things may pop into my mind, but all racing related.

MO: What was the high point of 2003 for you?

RHR: Mid-Ohio was huge……then we won Surfer’s in Oz at the end of the season. Winning that race was something I can’t even start to describe.

MO: As you look forward to 2004, what are your personal goals either on or off the track for next year?

RHR: I want to win races and ultimately challenge for the championship one race at a time. Off track I would like to become a better business man.

RFM would like to thank Katie Brannen for her help (as usual) and her assistance for obtaining the interview with Ryan during such a busy time for all! We look forward to cheering Herdez Racing at the grid at Long Beach!