BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 7 (UPI) -- Defending series champ Ryan Hunter-Reay gained the winner's circle for the first time this year with a victory Sunday in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.
Hunter-Reay, the pole-sitter, passed Helio Castroneves for the lead with 14 laps left and then fended off Scott Dixon to register a 0.64-second victory for his 10th career IndyCar crown.
Hunter-Reay earned the 2012 championship with four wins, but this year's campaign got off to a disappointing start with an 18th-place finish at last week's season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dixon, meanwhile, carded his fourth second-place finish in four career races at Barber Motorsports Park.
Castroneves claimed third place while Charlie Kimball and Will Power rounded out the Top 5.
