LEXINGTON, Ohio – Justin Wilson didn’t hold especially fond memories of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course entering the 31st Indy car race at the venerable road course.
He had a best finish of eighth in six previous starts on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course, and sustained a back injury in practice for the August 2011 race that curtailed his season with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
So a runner-up finish to Graham Rahal in the 90-lap Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio was a high point of his short season with Andretti Autosport and a birthday present for the Verizon IndyCar Series driver who has almost everything.
Wilson, who started 14th in the No. 25 Honda, turned 37 on July 31.
“It feels great to get a second place,” Wilson said. “I was pushing like hell to try and get past Graham on that (Lap 84) restart. I knew I couldn’t lean on him or bang wheels with him – he’s a Honda driver going for the championship, so that was in the back of my mind. At the same time I wanted to push him as hard as I could, make him honest and make him earn it.
“I had one more push-to-pass left but Graham was too quick. We pushed as hard as we could.”
It was Wilson’s 27th career podium finish, his 45th top five and his 94th top 10 in 173 starts. Of course, he would have liked to compete in a full 2015 season.
Wilson did not have a ride after parting with Dale Coyne Racing after the 2014 season in which he earned one top-five and seven-top 10 finishes and placed 15th in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings.
Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti announced at the season opener in March in St. Petersburg that Wilson would drive a fourth Honda in May for the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Additional races were tentative.
Wilson also drove at Milwaukee and Iowa in July.
“I have to thank everyone at Andretti Autosport and Honda for all the work they’ve done. I’m pleased to get Honda a 1-2 finish at their home track," he said.
All four Andretti Autosport entries finished in the top 10 – Ryan Hunter-Reay seventh, Carlos Munoz ninth after starting 23rd, and Marco Andretti 10 for his 85th career top 10.