HUNTER ON TARGET IN MID-OHIO
Kiwi racer Hunter McElrea has scored his maiden Indy Lights victory with a dominant display at the latest round.
Jul 4, 2022
Ahead of compatriot Scott McLaughlin’s IndyCar win, McElrea raised the New Zealand flag in the under-card event, leading from start to finish in the No.27 Andretti Autosport car.
“I’m just relieved,” McElrea said. “I knew I could do this. This weekend, I just wanted to go back to having fun and letting everything handle itself. I can’t thank everyone who has supported me. It means a lot, and I’m just really relieved and really happy with this.”
The race result was just the icing on the cake for McElrea, who was never beaters in any session over the weekend; he was also P1 in practice and qualifying.
McElrea was relieved finally to add his name to the list of Indy Lights winners in 2022, a feat he likely should have accomplished in the season-opening race on the Streets of St. Petersburg, where he claimed pole, only to end up in the wall eleven laps inn to the race.
“Ever since St. Pete when I threw that one away, it was really mentally tough,” he said. “I’ve probably been letting that affect me too much, still just trying to force it a bit much. I hope this sets the precedent for the second half of the season. I think for sure this weekend is as perfect as they get. It’s very good for the rest of the year.”
Indy Lights is back in action Sunday, July 24 (NZT) for the first oval race of the season at Iowa Speedway.
Watch the highlights below: