Update: Hunter-Reay captures second straight IndyCar victory

NEWTON - Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport did it again.

The 31-year-old driver avoided trouble and returned to victory lane while his team continued its success in Iowa.

Hunter-Reay zipped passed Scott Dixon with 13 laps remaining to claim his first win at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Saturday night at Iowa Speedway. It was Hunter-Reay's second straight win, and first multi-win season in his sixth-year career. The win is the fourth for Andretti Autosport in six IZOD IndyCar Series events at Iowa Speedway.

Hunter-Reay held the lead when Katherine Legge wrecked to create the sixth caution. He finished ahead of Andretti Autosport teammate and defending Iowa Corn 250 champ Marco Andretti. Tony Kanaan, a former Andretti Autosport driver and 2008 Iowa Corn Indy 250 champion, was third. The win moved Hunter-Reay into second in the overall points standings, trailing Will Power by only three.

"It's definitely nice being two in a row," Hunter-Reay said. "Two in a row, that's a game changer; that's when you know we need to start running up here more often and putting performances like tonight together."

Hunter-Reay was patient and took advantage of his opportunity late. Dixon seemed to fade as Hunter-Reay gained momentum throughout the race. He paced the field twice for 15 laps.

“I was really good on the high side just setting up traffic,” Hunter-Reay said. “I saw it coming and as the tires wore off we were really strong just like at Milwaukee.”

Team owner Michael Andretti praised Hunter-Reay for the win, which is his fifth career win, including at least one in each of the last three seasons.

"Awesome, I'll tell you, it was a great day," Michael Andretti said. "I'm so happy for Ryan."

Hunter-Reay passed Marco Andretti earlier in the race, which seemed to raise the ire of his teammate. Michael Andretti said he held his breath as teammates jockeyed for position. He had faith neither would do anything risky.

Hunter Reay credited Marco Andretti for information obtained during last week's test session at the track. The team shares information, and success was a collaborative effort.

"They were the one car from our team that tested and did an excellent job with the car, and we basically raced what they came up with in the test," Hunter-Reay said. "So it's a huge credit to them and really, the team is working very well together."

Hunter-Reay has never finished higher than seventh in season points and now finds himself in battle for a points title, maintaining bragging rights as the top American driver. He needs to continue to compete at a high level the rest of the season.

"You know, it all comes down to consistency and that's how championships are won," Hunter-Reay said. "We have to be consistent."

Marco Andrettti started third and ran with the leaders the entire race. He can still boast being the most effective driver at Iowa Speedway, earning his fourth podium finish. Taking the top two spots was a testament to the entire organization.

"That was a statement that Andretti Autosport is back on top," Andretti said. "It feels great."

Michael Andretti said he hopes his son his right, considering the team had a chance to sweep all three podium spots until James Hinchcliffe lost control during a restart with 55 laps left and crashed near the front of the field. Hinchcliffe has led in six races this season, including 19 Saturday night.

"I think we have been competitive all year, and we have been knocking on the door, and finally to break through the last two weekends has been great," Michael Andretti said. "Now hopefully we can carry this momentum for the rest of the year, and like I said, I think we have two guys in a serious fight for the championship, which is, you know, great odds for us to have two guys up there. So real happy about that.

Marco Andretti has endured a rocky season so far. His last podium was the victory here last season. He hopes the performance ignites the rest of the season.

"I'm still in that win drought, which is killing me inside," Andretti said. "Hopefully, this will bump us."

Kanaan and Andretti have both experienced great success at Iowa Speedway. Both appear to be have a feel for the track, which plays to their strengths.

"You have to drive. It's a driver's track," Kanaan said. "If you put it out there you don't geta  good result."

Good results were hard to come by for some of IndyCar Series top drivers. The race was littered with six cautions, tying the record for most in this race set in 2007 and 2008. Four of the top 10 drivers in the points standing, including Power and Hinchcliffe, who entered Saturday night's race in second, were knocked out.

Dario Franchitti, the pole sitter for the second straight week, experienced the biggest disappointment after having his attempt at a third title at Iowa Speedway ended before it even started.

On a warm-up lap after the initial start was waved off, Franchitti's car started to smoke and forced him to pull off. Franchitti was towed off the track. It was the first time the defending IndyCar points champion did not finish two consecutive races since the final race of 2004 and the first in 2005.

The Target Chip Ganassi Racing car blew the engine that won Franchitti a third Indianapolis 500 championship in May.

"It was making a very strange noise," said Franchitti, who won the pole last week at Milwaukee IndyFest only to finish 19th due to contact. "I actually just got on the radio to say is this making an odd noise and just at that it let go. It's really disappointing."

The incident forced the first nine laps to run under yellow and elevated Helio Castroneves into the pole position. Castroneves led the first 51 laps before James Hinchcliffe made a move to the inside to take the lead.

Things continued to get rough for drivers the rest of the race. Power and E.J. Viso made contact on lap 68, ending the night for both and allowing Castroneves to regain the lead when he beat Hinchcliffe off pit road.

Viso claimed that Power wasn't using his mirror and tried to block him. Power was apologetic and took responsibility when shown a replay during an interview.

"I didn't know he was underneath me," Power said. "I didn't even know he was there. I feel bad."

The track didn't produce much grip for the drivers and it showed again when J.R. Hildebrand slammed into the wall on lap 98.

The fourth caution impacted the lead again, helping Dixon take control for the second time. Dixon, whose first lead was with a little more than 90 laps left, regained the lead with less than 70 lap to go when rookie Josef Newgarden took Ryan Briscoe out of contention.

Briscoe, who entered the race in ninth, was out front, lapping Newgarden. The two made contact and wrecked into the wall in turn 2, preventing them from finishing.

Briscoe said he was attempting to come in for new tires and giving Newgarden the high line on the track. Newgarden came underneath, trying to pass too late in the turn and caused the crash. Briscoe was fully fueled and could have contended for a win.

"It's disappointing," Briscoe said. "He's a rookie and he'll learn from it."

Dixon dropped to fourth after leading 76 laps, second only to 133 of Castroneves. Dixon struggled toward the end as the car lost handling on the track's high-side. He had trouble passing lap traffic.

"I was a bit confused over that but I'm not sure we were going to hang on and win either," said Dixon, who is third in points. "Tough night for the Target team."

Simon Pagenaud, the leading rookie in the series, started last and finished fifth. Pagenaud, who has never started last for a race, said he thought of his girlfriend's father who died this week. His performance was a fitting tribute to the man who watched Pagenaud's every race.

"My thought process starting the race was 'just move forward,' " said Pagenaud, sixth in overall points. "It was really difficult in the beginning. We were already a lap down before I got confident with the car. Something just clicked, and everything unlocked and we started moving forward. I'm really starting to enjoy the ovals. It's close racing and it's fun."