Hinchcliffe: All's well with Hunter-Reay

After a crash and an emotional comment last weekend in Long Beach, Calif., Andretti Autosport drivers James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay appear to be good with each other again.

At least that's the view of Hinchcliffe, who was knocked out of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by an overly optimistic move by Hunter-Reay.

Hunter-Reay ran into Josef Newgarden in Turn 4 of the street circuit, igniting a seven-car pileup that included Hinchcliffe. Hunter-Reay was trying to capitalize on the fact Newgarden was slower with still-cold tires. Hinchcliffe had the car directly behind Hunter-Reay, so he saw it all.

In frustration, Hinchcliffe called the move of the 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion "rookie." Hunter-Reay apparently didn't take it personally.

"He ruined my race; I could have said a lot worse," Hinchcliffe said Friday.

Hinchcliffe said he and Hunter-Reay were together Thursday in Indianapolis -- he declined to say where -- and they were "already joking about" the crash.

Hinchcliffe said he still expects the conflict will be a hot media topic at next week's race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., but he's good with his teammate.

Hunter-Reay couldn't be reached for comment.

As for the hand Hinchcliffe injured in the crash, he said he has no trouble with it now.