INDYCAR: Hunter-Reay Helps Carpenter In Sonoma; Vautier Goes Fastest Again

2012 IndyCar champ Ryan Hunter-Reay steps into Ed Carpenter's car at Sonoma to work on development items, and Tristan Vautier tops yet another test.

Marshall Pruett | Posted February 28, 2013

Ryan Hunter-Reay spent a few hours in a different IndyCar cockpit on Wednesday as part of an intra-Chevy team testing collaboration. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay made a surprise appearance Wednesday at Sonoma during a one-day test held for six teams and 10 drivers.

The Andretti Autosport driver was a last-minute addition to share Ed Carpenter’s No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Dallara DW12-Chevy as the team (and engine manufacturer) put the road course ace’s talent to good use.

“We spent some time at Fontana doing something like this,” said Ed Carpenter Racing team manager Derrick Walker. “Marco Andretti wanted to see how our car felt and we welcomed another point of input; as a one-car team, the more information and feedback you can get, the better.

“It’s great having Ryan here to help with testing. We’re pretty confident about our oval program, and having the current IndyCar champion in the car to assist on our road course package is only a positive.”

Team owner/driver Carpenter echoed Walker’s sentiment.

Ryan Hunter-Reay's signature helmet stands out in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy at Sonoma. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

“It’s a great opportunity for the team to have Ryan in the car this morning and get another driver’s feedback,” he said.

RHR spent approximately two hours in the car before the brief lunch break, and returned to the cockpit for a final run on fresh tires to start the afternoon’s running.

“It’s always great to be in Sonoma; the Team Chevy camp is a big camp and we have something here we’re testing that we started developing at Sebring and we’re continuing that development in Sonoma," RHR told SPEED.com. "At the same time, it gives us a different perspective on how we can progress for the season, and for Ed Carpenter and ECR for the season.”

After running in the 80-second bracket in the a.m., RHR dropped down into the 79.5-second range before handing the car over to Carpenter. Ray Gosselin, RHR’s engineer on the No. 1 DHL/Sun Drop Andretti Chevy, was also present to aid the manufacturer’s intra-team development process.

“It’s unique…we go out and fight against each other, but when we’re all ramping up for the season, the more information we can get, the better,” said RHR, referring to the unusual practice of testing with a rival team. “It benefits all involved.”

Carpenter and RHR appeared to work closely all day, and despite the odd visuals of seeing the champion testing and Indy car that had another driver’s name on the helmet surround piece, the enduring friendship between the two afforded an easy working relationship.

“It feels comfortable because I’m great friends with Ed,” said RHR. “We were teammates (at Vision Racing) in ’09 and we remain great friends off the racetrack as well. And Matt Barnes, [who is] engineering this No. 20 Fuzzy’s car, is a great friend as well. This is the fourth or fifth team [where] we’ve worked together, and we’ve known each other since 2005.”

Once his driving duties were completed, RHR stayed on to work with Carpenter as an additional driver coach during the afternoon where the team’s namesake came within a reasonable distance to what his friend set in the No. 20.

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