Hunter-Reay talks about last minute deal

“It’s been a crazy couple of days. It was a late-minute deal. I understand the team is in an awkward position with it. I’m thrilled about it. I look to take the opportunity to run with it. I had been talking to Bobby (Rahal) and Scott (Roembke) since the end of the 2003 season, and we’ve gotten close to a couple of deals here and there. We’ve always been in contact and it’s always been a good relationship. I was talking to (Rahal) at the beginning of the season."

(About his immediate work): “I had been racing the (Grand Am) Rolex Series. We have a lot of work to do. I want to learn from all the experience on this team, which is one thing I’ve never had to learn from. My teammate in ’03 was Jimmy Vasser, who drove for this team, but since then I haven’t had a lot of experience to draw from. I can learn a lot and gradually make progress."

(About expectations): “The biggest thing for me is making progress, mostly on the ovals. I’ve had great success on ovals in the past, but this is a new situation that I have to treat with respect and I have to go out and learn everything I can. I haven’t been in one of these cars in two years and we were a couple of tenths out of the top 10 (in first session). When it comes to Mid-Ohio and racing Indy cars, this is what it’s all about. I’m so happy to come back."