Ryan Hunter-Reay finally achieved the break-out victory that he has threatened on more than one occasion this IndyCar Series season after surviving a chaotic end to the Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International.
A largely uneventful first half to the opening road course event of 2008 suggested that honours would be decided between polewinner Ryan Briscoe and points leader Scott Dixon, but a mistimed caution - at least as far as the leaders were concerned - turned the race on its head, and when the yellow was elongated by several further incidents - including one involving the erstwhile pacesetters - Hunter-Reay was left poised to open his account.
Briscoe had taken the early initiative, converting pole into a healthy lead, while Dixon, Hunter-Reay and Tony Kanaan all got by front row partner Justin Wilson at the green flag. Dixon's start was adjudged to have been a little too eager and the kiwi was dropped behind RHR, but it mattered little as the laps played out and he retook the role of leading pursuer.
The first chance for anyone to make a break courtesy of an alternative strategy came when Helio Castroneves Watkins Glen jinx struck again on lap five. The Brazilian, polewinner for the past three years, had already had to start from the very back after a throttle problem in qualifying, but was making rapid progress when his Penske entry slowed dramatically as he rejoined the 'short' circuit layout. Castroneves managed to nurse the car back towards the pits, but opted to stop just shy of the entry, forcing a full-course caution and earning himself a tow into pit-lane.
After a comical interlude, in which the safety crew refused to push him to his pit and he looked set to be restarted by a rival team, Castroneves was eventually 'rescued' by his crew and pushed to safety while an electrical-related gearbox problem was addressed. In all, the two-time Indy 500 winner lost a couple of laps before rejoining, presenting an opportunity for early pit-stops for those towards the back.
