Auto racing: Hunter-Reay reigns again at Milwaukee

Ryan Hunter-Reay (c), driver of the #1 Andretti Autosport DHL Chevrolet celebrates with Helio Castroneves of Brazil (l), driver of the #3 PPG Team Penske of Chevrolet and third place Will Power of Australia(r), driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske of Chevrolet on the podium in victory lane during the Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile on June 15, 2013 in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Getty Images)

IndyCar series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay passed Takuma Sato for the lead with 53 laps remaining and roared to victory at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday.

Hunter-Reay won for the second straight year at Milwaukee, continuing the Andretti Autosport team’s dominance at the circuit.

Michael Andretti’s drivers have won five of the last nine races here, and his son Marco had started from pole position this weekend.

Hunter-Reay crossed the finish line 4.8 seconds ahead of Brazilian Helio Castroneves, the current points leader.

“The team did just awesome today,” said Hunter-Reay, who led three times for a total of 65 laps. “We had varying levels of grip through the whole race, different levels of balance, and we just stuck with it. In the end, we knew what we had to do to win. What a race it was.”

Hunter-Reay joined Andretti teammate James Hinchcliffe of Canada as the only drivers who have won twice this year.

Hunter-Reay also won at Birmingham, Alabama, in April.

The victory bumped Hunter-Reay up to second in the point standings. He is now 16 points behind Castroneves. Hunter-Reay finished second to Castroneves in last weekend’s race at Texas.

Last year Hunter-Reay’s victory here kickstarted a season that saw him win four races and capture his first IndyCar crown by just three points.

Castroneves second-place run came after he started 17th. Australian Will Power was third, Venezuela’s E.J. Viso fourth and Hinchcliffe fifth.

Scott Dixon finished sixth, followed by Sato — who twice led the race but faded after Hunter-Reay overtook him.