James Hinchcliffe

James Hinchcliffe (born December 5, 1986) is a Canadian race car driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

Racing career

Early racing

Born in Oakville, Ontario, Hinchcliffe started his open-wheel career in karting and began car racing in 2003, when he finished 3rd in Bridgestone Racing Academy F2000 series. Next year he was top rookie in Formula BMW USA, winning three races. In 2005, he raced in the Star Mazda Series, finishing 3rd overall with three wins. In 2006 he moved to the Champ Car Atlantic Series with Forsythe Racing. He won one race at Portland and scored two other podiums, but was only able to finish 10th in the overall standings. Hinchcliffe also provided commentary for the Eurosport coverage of Champ Car events during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

A1 Grand Prix

He then joined A1 Team Canada in A1 Grand Prix. He finished 8th in the sprint race and 13th in the feature in his first race at Zandvoort, then had a stunning weekend in Brno. He scored 2nd in the sprint race at the Czech round and led the feature for the majority of the race, but clashed with eventual winner Alex Yoong which dropped him down to 5th. He raced next at the Beijing round, finishing 4th in the sprint race and 10th in the feature race – which he could have won but for a team pitstop strategy error – and then returned after two races out at the New Zealand round, where he finished 6th in both races.

Hinchcliffe once again raced in the Champ Car Atlantic Series in 2007, this time with the Sierra Sierra team. He finished 4th in points without a win. During the season he was also a guest commentator on the international feed for Champ Car races. He returned to Forsythe Racing for the 2008 Atlantic Championship season, again finishing 4th in points but this time capturing a win in the second race of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Firestone Indy Lights Series

For the 2009 season, he competed in Indy Lights for perennial powerhouse team Sam Schmidt Motorsports in their No. 7 car. Hinchcliffe finished 5th in points without a win or pole position. In the 2010 season, he signed on with the less historically-successful Team Moore Racing in their No. 2 entry. Hinchcliffe captured three wins and five more podium finishes on his way to second in the championship behind French rookie Jean-Karl Vernay who was driving the Schmidt No. 7 car.

He also served as the driver analyst for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 as regular driver analyst Davey Hamilton was competing in the race.

IndyCar Series

Newman/Haas Racing (2011)

In April 2011, Hinchcliffe signed with Newman/Haas Racing to compete in the remainder of 2011 IndyCar Series season, excluding the Twin Ring Motegi race, after missing the first race of the season at St. Petersburg. He made his debut at Barber Motorsports Park and failed to finish after making contact with a spinning E. J. Viso.^[1] He then picked up his first career top five finish in just his second start in the series on the Streets of Long Beach with a 4th-place finish. Hinchcliffe then collected a top ten on the Streets of São Paulo in Brazil. He finished 9th. Hinchcliffe started 13th in his first Indianapolis 500, and ran up front for an early portion of the race before crashing on lap 101 and finishing 29th.

Following the Indy 500, was the Firestone Twin 275s in Texas. Hinchcliffe, however, struggled in both races and had finishes of 20th and 19th, respectively. Hinchcliffe then rebounded to collect his 2nd top ten of the season with a 6th at the Milwaukee Mile. Hinchcliffe was strong for the rest of the year, collecting Rookie of the Year Honors, just beating out Panther Racing's J. R. Hildebrand. However, after the 2011 IndyCar season it was announced that Newman/Haas Racing would not be returning to IndyCar making Hinchcliffe a free agent.

Andretti Autosport (2012–14)

On January 10, 2012 it was announced that Hinchcliffe would succeed Danica Patrick as the driver of the GoDaddy car for Andretti Autosport.^[2] The car was renumbered to No. 27, the same number used by Canadian drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve.^[2] At the 2012 Indianapolis 500, Hinchcliffe qualified 2nd overall while carrying a pair of gloves inside his driving suit, that belonged to the late Greg Moore, whom Hinchcliffe considers the main reason why he got into racing. On race day, Hinchcliffe overtook pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe on the first lap, and ended up leading five of the 200 laps on his way to a creditable 6th-place finish.

Hinchcliffe returned to Andretti for 2013, and started the season by winning the season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, for his first series victory.^[3] Later, in Brazil for the São Paulo Indy 300, Hinchcliffe won the race, with a last turn overtake under Takuma Sato, breaking the winning sequence of Will Power.

In the 2014 Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Hinchcliffe was hit by debris, and a CT scan revealed he had suffered a concussion, and needed medical clearance before racing again.^[4] Hinchcliffe was cleared to return to racing on May 15.^[5]

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (2015–)

Hinchcliffe's No. 5 IndyCar, was piloted by Ryan Briscoe during the 2015 Indianapolis 500.

On October 7, 2014 it was announced that Hinchcliffe would join Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the 2015 season and drive the No. 5 car, filling the open seat left by Simon Pagenaud.^[6] He won his first race with the team in the second race of the year in New Orleans. Hinchcliffe sustained serious injuries in a crash during practice for the 2015 Indianapolis 500, on May 18.^[7] He remained hospitalized during the race and Ryan Briscoe took Hinchcliffe's position for the race.^[8] Briscoe and Conor Daly replaced Hinchcliffe in the car for the remainder of the 2015 season.

On May 22, 2016, Hinchcliffe won the pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, just a year after his near-fatal crash at the fabled track.^[9]

Motorsports career results

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

American open–wheel racing results

(key)

Atlantic Championship

Indy Lights

IndyCar Series

* Season still in progress.

• ¹ The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.

Indianapolis 500

Touring Car racing

V8 Supercar results

† Not Eligible for points

Dancing with the Stars

On August 30, 2016, Hinchcliffe was announced as one of the celebrity contestants for season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Sharna Burgess.^[10] On November 22, 2016, Hinchcliffe finished in second place to Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez.

¹ Score given by guest judge Pitbull.
² Due to an injury, Burgess was unable to perform with Hinchcliffe, but did choreograph the dances. Hinchcliffe instead danced with Jenna Johnson.
³ Score given by guest judge Idina Menzel

Other ventures

On August 30, 2016, Hinchcliffe was announced as one of the celebrity contestants for season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Sharna Burgess.^[11] On November 22, 2016, Hinchcliffe finished in second place to Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez. He also appeared on an episode of Celebrity Family Feud featuring IndyCar drivers competing against swimsuit models.

Hinchcliffe is a partner with production company Frost Marks Films out of Toronto.^[12]

References

External links

• Official website
• IndyCar Driver Page