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LONG POND — Ryan Hunter-Reay’s bid for back-to-back Pocono wins started on a sour note Saturday morning.

Hunter-Reay lost control of his No. 28 Andretti Autosport Honda in Turn 1 during first practice and was unable to make a lap during IndyCar qualifying, already putting the 2012 IndyCar champ in an early hole.

Turns out it didn’t matter.

The defending race winner needed just 50 laps to wrestle the lead from pole-sitter Mikhail Aleshin and stalked the Russian-born driver for most of the race. Hunter-Reay appeared to be in control until his car shut off while leading on lap 162 of the 200-lap event and tried feverishly to get it restarted to find himself a lap down.

“It was hard, it was really hard,” Hunter-Reay said. “It almost brings you to tears leading the race and the engine shuts off. Had a lot of fun out there (Monday) if it’s any consolation just driving through the field twice.”

And driving through the field he did, coming back to record a third-place finish after passing cars at a torrid pace in the final laps.

“This No. 28 DHL Honda deserved to be in the fight for the win at the end,” Hunter-Reay said. “It was certainly the fastest car out there I think. Just one of those seasons I guess. Just have to smile and keep pushing. It’s just been that way.”

Alexander Rossi’s win in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 the only victory to show for the Andretti Autosport organization in 2016.

Aleshin scores career-best finish

Aleshin dominated much of the ABC Supply 500, but it wasn’t enough to be on the top step of the podium when the checkered flag flew Monday afternoon.

Aleshin won the Verizon P1 Award Saturday and led 87 laps en route to a runner-up showing at the Tricky Triangle. He gave eventual race-winner Will Power a run for his money as the two traded the lead back-and-forth after the second-to-last restart.

“The team did an amazing job with all the pit stops and the car was good,” Aleshin said. “We needed some changes on some of the stops. One of which wasn’t very good and that’s when I dropped (back) but on the next pit stop we gained everything (position) we had lost.”

Aleshin had a vicious practice crash at Auto Club Speedway two years ago that left the 29-year-old driver with fractured ribs and chest pain after the wreck. He missed most the 2015 season due to funding issues and ran the season finale at Sonoma until stepping back in the No. 7 Schmidt Peterson MotorsportsHonda full-time this year.

“I didn’t know for sure at the end of my first year, obviously after Fontana (crash) especially,” Aleshin said about ovals. “But now I understand it and now I like ovals I like them even more than most of the road courses. Here, it was just awesome, such intense racing. You’re always at the edge. You’re always at the edge and at speeds of 220 mph. You never know what is going to happen and plus today you had so much wind coming in.”

It took Ryan Hunter-Reay, right, just 50 laps to go from the back of the pack to the front. Despite a car issue, Hunter-Reay finished in third.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_Hunter-ReayPOCONO.jpg.optimal.jpgIt took Ryan Hunter-Reay, right, just 50 laps to go from the back of the pack to the front. Despite a car issue, Hunter-Reay finished in third. Mel Evans | AP photo

By Kyle Magda

For Times Leader