---
title: "Indy 500 Winner Ryan Hunter-Reay Wins $3.3 Million Lawsuit Against Former Boss"
description: "Paul Gentilozzi fired Hunter-Reay in 2005 in favor of a driver bringing $150,000. Oops."
date: "2017-02-23"
modified: "2017-02-23"
authors:
  - name: "Devin Altieri"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/devin-altieri"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/7866/indy-500-winner-ryan-hunter-reay-wins-3-3-million-lawsuit-against-former-boss"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "indycar"
---

# Indy 500 Winner Ryan Hunter-Reay Wins $3.3 Million Lawsuit Against Former Boss

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/02/rhr.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

After 10 years of legal battles, 2012 IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay has been awarded $3.3 million in a wrongful termination and disparagement of character case with his former Champ Car team owner Paul Gentilozzi, as reported by [RACER](<https://www.racer.com/indycar/item/138322-hunter-reay-wins-protracted-suit-against-gentilozzi>).

Gentilozzi dropped Hunter-Reay from his Rocketsports team with just two races left in the 2005 season in favor of Michael McDowell as McDowell reportedly brought $150,000 to the team for those two races. Hunter-Reay, in turn, filed a breach of contract suit against Rocketsports and Gentilozzi in 2007.

In 2009, the court awarded Hunter-Reay $2.7 million in damages, but the Rocketsports team folded shortly before the judgment was handed down in an effort to avoid paying up. Hunter-Reay was never able to collect from its near-identical successor, RSR Racing.

The current lawsuit sought to hold Gentilozzi and RSR Racing liable for the original judgment. The court not only ruled in favor of Hunter-Reay, but also added $562,000 in interest to the $2.7 million initially awarded.

Despite the hefty $3.3 million ruling, Gentilozzi and RSR Racing insist their current racing endeavors will not be affected. At the moment, RSR fields two Lexus RC F GT3s in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on behalf of the carmaker. Gentilozzi and RSR Racing have filed a countersuit in an effort to halt Hunter-Reay’s collecting.

Whether Ryan Hunter-Reay ever sees a dime of this $3.3 million remains to be seen, but you can bet he feels pretty good about the judgment after being dropped for just $150,000.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/devinaltieri>)