By Andrew Cutler
January 5 2010

It was perhaps inevitable that IZOD's move to become the title sponsor of the IndyCar Series would be a double-edged sword for Ryan Hunter-Reay. While being the "face" of their marketing efforts to this point kept his name on the lips of the team owners, there was some question about how much money that the clothing company could now afford to funnel into sponsoring him directly.

It has been well known that IZOD and Ryan had been in talks with Andretti Autosport about putting him into the car recently vacated by Hideki Mutoh, who is looking into other options for a race seat in 2010. While the details have yet to be finalized, team owner Michael Andretti felt that the time was right to at least verify that Hunter-Reay will indeed be in one of his cars, if only on an occasional basis. "We felt it was important to announce what we know and what we've secured, which is a great partnership under the IZOD brand name and a program that we feel will give Ryan a good shot of winning at Indianapolis. How far we take him into 2010 is still in the works, but we feel good about the potential that we will add Ryan to our driver lineup for the full season."

The only other comment made regarding the deal (as it stands at this point anyway) seemed to indicate that, should it prove to be only for a partial schedule, it would be spread out over the length of the season instead of ending abruptly after Indianapolis, as earlier reports had indicated.

Only time will tell.

Needless to say, Ryan is ready to make the most of whatever opportunity he is afforded.  "This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am ready to give 120 percent to the program."

The car number will change from the prior #27 to #37, a number that is featured prominently on IZOD IndyCar-based appearal.