In third place, Hunter-Reay trailed Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and rookie Felix Rosenqvist as they hotly contested the final lap at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Instead, Hunter-Reay scored his first podium finish since the race at Circuit of The Americas in March and his first podium finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course since 2011.
Hunter-Reay felt good about the finish.
The next race is the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, a venue where Hunter-Reay won in 2015 and finished third in 2016.
