Ryan Hunter-Reay is always on the move.
The Verizon IndyCar Series season is three weeks away, but the 37-year-old Floridian has already amassed an offseason full of activity, which included the Rolex 24 at Daytona – season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and the Race of Champions in Saudi Arabia.
An ambassador and co-founder of Racing for Cancer, Hunter-Reay’s most meaningful work this offseason will take place this week when he and fellow Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe team up for the third annual “Race to Beat Cancer” at Palm Beach International Raceway with the Lucas Oil Racing School.
“Hinchcliffe has been nice enough to come back down and join us again, taking time out of his busy schedule to do that and we’re very appreciative of it,” said Hunter-Reay, who drives the No. 28 DHL Honda for Andretti Autosport to represent the 28 million people battling cancer.
“It’ll be unique. We get to get out there and teach folks how to race these single-seaters, and mix it up with them on the race track.
“It’s always a great event.”
The previous events were spread between golf at Pebble Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but the change was to help fit the schedule and location for those attending. The move has proved to be beneficial as the event will host its largest attendance list yet on Thursday and Friday.
For Hunter-Reay, the cause began on the heels of tragedy when he lost his mother to colon cancer in 2009. Ever since, it has continued to grow.
“Racing for Cancer, since we started in 2010 with my partner in the charity, Tom Vossman, it’s just really picked up steam,” said the 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion.
“Especially, with the addition of AutoNation coming on, they’ve not only been a personal sponsor of mine and supporter, but they’ve been like family and have come on to join forces in the charity side of it as well.
“We’ve raised over $6.5 million since we started. It’s an incredible effort to be a part of, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of so many important people and corporations like that.”
Hunter-Reay has more on his plate before the series opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 11. On Feb. 26, the 16-time race winner will head to Andretti Karting in Orlando for a media event as part of the lead-up to St. Petersburg, a race where he owns four podiums in 11 career starts.
“I’m looking forward towards getting to Andretti Karting in Orlando,” said Hunter-Reay. “I’ve been to two of their facilities so far and they are the best out there.
“I’m just excited to get the INDYCAR season going. It’s great to be talking about it and pushing it. There’s no better place to open up the INDYCAR season than St. Pete.
“I really want to win that race as well. I’ve been on the podium a few times and I need to break through on that one.”
Although starting strong isn’t an issue for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 champion, having Lady Luck on his side is. Hunter-Reay hasn’t won a race since Pocono in 2015. Various reliability issues hindered potential wins last season at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Indianapolis 500.
With the addition of the universal aero kit to the series, Hunter-Reay desires to capitalize on his winning chances, but understands there is a lot left to learn with the new car.
“We had some great performances last year,” said Hunter-Reay. “(Also) some missed opportunities that we need to build on. So hopefully we can do that, but at the moment it’s a big unknown.
“We don’t know what we’re going to have at Indianapolis. We don’t know how the car is going to race in traffic. We don’t know what aero settings we’re going to need. We’ve basically done two days (of testing) at Sebring and two days at Phoenix. Still very early days.
“I think about it every day. What’s this track going to be like? What’s first session at St. Pete going to be like? Is the car going to perform as we had at Sebring or is it going to be throwing us some curveballs?
“We’re expecting some challenges, no doubt about it, because it is so much more different than what we’re used to.”
Tickets for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are available at gpstpete.com. The race airs live at 12:30 p.m. ET March 11 on ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.