---
title: "IndyCar’s Ryan Hunter-Reay ‘Soaks in’ the Glory of His Dominant Detroit Victory"
description: "The American racing driver for Andretti Autosport celebrated by living up to a promise he had made."
date: "2018-06-04"
modified: "2018-06-04"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21306/indycars-ryan-hunter-reay-soaks-in-the-glory-of-his-dominant-detroit-victory"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Andretti Autosport"
  - "Belle Isle"
  - "Detroit"
  - "Detroit Grand Prix"
  - "indycar"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Ryan Hunter-Reay"
---

# IndyCar’s Ryan Hunter-Reay ‘Soaks in’ the Glory of His Dominant Detroit Victory

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/06/jgs_2018-detroit-129020-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter Reay celebrated his dominant victory at Sunday's [IndyCar Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21296/detroit-dual-ii-hunter-reay-wins-seizes-dream-weekend-for-andretti-and-honda>) by jumping into the James Scott Memorial Fountain in Belle Isle Park. As it turns out, he had made a promise to do so earlier during the week.

The "Detroit Double," as they call it, was filled with many unexpected surprises, such as a General Motors executive [crashing a $120,000 Corvette ZR1](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21283/chevy-corvette-zr1-bites-gm-exec-at-detroit-indycar-race>) during the race's parade lap, but Hunter-Reay's choice of celebration came as a "refreshing surprise."

According to this [video](<https://twitter.com/BradGalli/status/1003410902044078080>), the American racing driver had promised the folks at *WXYZ Detroit* that if he won either Saturday or Sunday's race, he would plunge into the frigid waters of the iconic Detroit fountain.

![message-editor%2F1528139232011-jgs\_2018-detroit-128890-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1528139232011-jgs_2018-detroit-128890-1.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

![message-editor%2F1528139239902-jgs\_2018-detroit-128941-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1528139239902-jgs_2018-detroit-128941-1.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

"He promised the local *ABC* affiliate that he would jump in the James Scott Memorial Fountain, which is nestled in the track here on Belle Isle, if he won the race. And he made good," said an IndyCar spokesperson.

Hunter-Reay lived up to his nice-guy reputation by showing fans and colleagues alike what to do when someone makes a promise. Although he appeared to stutter for a second due to the temperature of the water, he didn't think about it twice before laying down to pose with his bottle of champagne for the [many photographers](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21106/this-is-what-its-like-to-live-in-indianapolis-during-the-indy-500>) near the fountain.

The Andretti Autosport racing driver climbed from his starting position of 10th to second place during the race, only to force his teammate and race leader [Alexander Rossi](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21265/andretti-autosports-ryan-hunter-reay-leads-friday-practice-in-detroit>) into a mistake in the closing stages of the race. Hunter-Reay's pressure ultimately paid off and earned him the 17th race of his IndyCar victory.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1003410902044078080

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)