Munoz Scores First Podium of Season at Mid-Ohio

Perhaps things are starting to turn around for Andretti Autosport, as Carlos Munoz, driver of the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Honda, finished the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course on the podium in the third position.      

The Colombian driver had a pretty decent weekend at the track.  He qualified in the 15 position and with a good pit strategy, he was able to work his way up to the front.        

“You know, really happy,” Munoz stated.  “Finally I did a run, came out our way, the pit strategy with my crew — pitted this lap, which — inaudible. I don’t remember but what happened. And we put on that lap and came out of the pit on the yellow. So that gave a lot of track position. “The good thing is after we get the track position, I was quite a good pace. Very happy for the team, all Andretti, it’s been quite tough for us after the Indy 500, but happy to be back on the podium again. Look forward for Pocono, love that place.”

The 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year says the Mid-Ohio track is a physical one.  He says he was wore out when he got out of the car at the end of the race.

“It was last thing we did to save fueling, so when you don’t save fuel, you don’t push as hard,” Munoz said.  “Before that, it was like — it’s hard for the drivers to drink the water when you are pushing the whole time. We always drink when we do the yellow — it’s really physical, the steering while, like Will said, was really, really heavy.”

The Bogotá, Colombia native along with his Andretti Autosport teammates haven’t had that much success on road courses this season. Notably, Munoz is the only one of the AA drivers to have a pole this season and that was at Texas Motor Speedway which is an oval track.

“Strategy today, we have to be honest, the strategy of the whole track, Mid-Ohio, everything, track position, you get in front, you stay up front, and you can go quicker because you have more clean air,” Munoz added.   “I think our pace was much better than we showed on the track in qualifying, that’s for sure.  Ryan is pretty good. He’s always been really good. The way he drives the car, it’s hard for me to drive it on the other teammate. So we went another direction this weekend. I think we had a much better car than the qualifying car. “So you know, Ryan was really quick. I think he had that problem with fuel they told me, something like that. But you know, it’s always a tough track for us.  Qualifying lap has been quite tough for everyone — inaudible. We are getting there, we are making some changes and the team is working so hard. We don’t like to see us always out for sure the team likes Pocono.”