EDMONTON, Alberta -- Ryan Hunter-Reay entered the Edmonton Indy aiming for his four consecutive race win. He'll have to accomplish the feat from no higher than the 11th starting position.
The Chevrolet engine in the No. 28 Team DHL/Dr Pepper car was changed out following his victory in the Honda Indy Toronto two weeks ago by the Andretti Autosport crew as a precaution. Teammate James Hinchcliffe's car developed an engine issue in practice on the Exhibition Place circuit and it was replaced for qualifications.
Pursuant to Rule 15.5.1 of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, an entry changing out an engine before it reaches its mileage limit (1,850 miles) will receive a 10-grid spot penalty.
Hunter-Reay was ninth quick overall through the two practice sessions July 21. Practice and the three rounds of qualifications on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn City Centre Airport circuit are July 21. The 75-lap race is July 22 (2 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network).
Hunter-Reay vaulted to the top of the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings with the three-race streak on a diverse set of racetracks (the flat Milwaukee Mile, the .875-mile Iowa Speedway oval and the tight Toronto street course). Will Power, who also won three consecutive races this season in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car and is the defending Edmonton Indy winner, is 34 points arrears. Teammate Helio Castroneves, who was quickest in practice July 22, is 46 points behind Hunter-Reay in third.
Sebastien Bourdais is the most recent winner of four consecutive Indy car races, opening the 2006 Champ Car season on the way to the championship.
Also, two-time series champion Scott Dixon will receive a 10-grid spot penalty because the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car is using its sixth Honda engine of the season. Under the engine manufacturer lease agreement for 2012, there's a limit of five engines per entry. Dixon is fourth in the standings.
Simona de Silvestro, driving the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy car for Lotus HVM Racing, will be penalized 10 grid spots because of the team utilizing its sixth engine of the season.