Andretti Autosport has agreed to contract extensions with driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and DHL that will see Hunter-Reay "race for Andretti Autosport and in DHL colors" through '20, according to David Malsher of MOTORSPORT.com. Hunter-Reay's contract was "due to expire" at the end of '17, but his contract will see him through to the end of '20. That will "mark Hunter-Reay's 11th season at Andretti." Hunter-Reay had been "linked with moves to both Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing" ( MOTORSPORT.com, 9/18 ). The AP's Jenna Fryer noted the contract extensions were signed yesterday "before the season finale at Sonoma Raceway." Hunter-Reay had "not been stressed about his future" and he "never considered testing the free-agent market." DHL has been with Andretti since '11, and its renewal was "revealed on the same day longtime IndyCar sponsor Target marked its final race after 27 years." Target has been the "primary sponsor for Chip Ganassi and was considered one of the longest partnerships in sports." Now DHL will "move into that role as this deal progresses" ( AP, 9/18 ). In San Jose, Darryl Matsuda notes "one big question" is whether Andretti can keep driver Alexander Rossi, who won this year's Indianapolis 500. Andretti said, "We're pushing hard. He wants to be here. I want him here. It's just getting sponsorship together. I can't make a commitment to him unless I get a commitment from a sponsor. That's where we are right now, but I feel real positive that we're close to getting it done, but I can't say that we're there yet" ( SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/19 ).
MELLOW YELLOW : The AP's Mike Cranston reported Menards will "return to IndyCar with 10 races of sponsorship for Simon Pagenaud." Team Owner Roger Penske said that he "has the funding to field cars for Pagenaud, Will Power and Helio Castroneves next season." The "status of Juan Pablo Montoya and a fourth Penske entry is undetermined" ( AP, 9/17 ).
