American driver Ryan Hunter-Reay captured the IndyCar Series penultimate crown in the second annual Grand Prix of Baltimore on a rainy Sunday Sept. 2 at the Inner Harbor of downtown Baltimore, Md.
Hunter-Reay, a 28-year-old driver for DHL and Andretti Autosport team, won first place after stealing the lead from Australian driver Ryan Briscoe with just four laps left. Season points leader Will Power, who won last year’s Baltimore Grand Prix, finished in sixth place, a disappointment after being favored to win the race. Hunter-Reay now trails Power in total season points by only 17 points in the chase for the season crown.
“That was probably the toughest race I’ve ever driven. I don’t have nothing left in me; I can barely talk,” said Hunter-Reay, winning his fourth race of the 2012 IndyCar Series season. “It was a great race and I’m just happy to be able to pull out the victory.”
Simona de Silvestro, one of three women IndyCar Series drivers who performed at this year’s Baltimore Grand Prix, celebrated her 24th birthday on Sept. 1. She finished in 22nd place.
Before the IndyCar Series penultimate race began, Baltimore native and famous African-American R&B singer Mario sang the National Anthem. He then handed the microphone over to U.S. Army Col. Gregory Gadson, an African-American active duty soldier who lost both his legs to a roadside bomb in Baghdad in 2007and the honorary grand marshal for the race. Gadson shouted out the famous phrase: “Start your engines,” signifying the start of the race.
“I had a lot of fun,” said Sharon Sheldon, who traveled from Greenbelt, Md. with her twin sister, Karon Sheldon, to watch the race. “This was our first time coming out to watch a motorsports race live and we had a blast.”
Baltimore mechanics David Smith and Milton Sprules attended the Grand Prix of Baltimore for the second straight year.
“It’s been just as exciting this year as it was last year,” said Sprules. “I’m a mechanic so I love this stuff.”
Grill Master Karlton Grimes told the AFRO that the Grand Prix of Baltimore has been great for business as he worked the grill for a local vendor right outside of the racetrack. This was the second year Grimes put his cooking skills to work for the Baltimore Grand Prix.
“Last year, I grilled thousands of chicken wings for Gen. Colin Powell ,” said Grimes, who has worked as a chef since 1981. “Business is good around this time of the year. I’m already looking forward to the in 2013!”
