December 5, 1986
James "Hince" Hinchcliffe
(Photo: Sweeter Alternative via photopin cc)
Born in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
He is also the self-proclaimed mayor of Hinchtown (a fictional town) on social media and the 2011 IndyCar "Rookie of the Year".
After karting, he started his open-wheel career 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 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.
He is also the self-proclaimed mayor of Hinchtown (a fictional town) on social media and the 2011 IndyCar "Rookie of the Year".
After karting, he started his open-wheel career 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 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.
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 (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.
'Hinch' 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 World Series 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.
For the 2009 season, he competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series for perennial powerhouse team Sam Schmidt Motorsports in their #7 car. Hinchcliffe struggled by #7 car standards, finishing 5th in points without a win or pole position. In 2010 season, he signed on with the less historically-successful Team Moore Racing in their #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 #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.
Hinchcliffe signed with Newman/Haas Racing to compete in the 2011 IndyCar Series season.
(photo credit: Paul Henman via photopin cc)
He made his debut at Barber Motorsports Park and failed to finish after making contact with a spinning E. J. Viso. 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 Sao Paulo in Brazil. He finished 9th. James started 13th in his first Indianapolis 500. Hinchcliffe 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. 'Hinch', 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.
(photo credit: Bryce Womeldurf via photopin)
For the 2012 season, Hinchcliffe replaced Danica Patrick as driver of the Andretti Autosport GoDaddy car, renumbered to #27, the same used by Canadian drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve.
At the 2012 Indianapolis 500, Hinchcliffe qualified 2nd overall while wearing a pair of gloves 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.
Hinchliffe returned to Andretti for 2013, and started the season by winning the season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, for his first series victory. Later, in Brazil for the Sao Paulo Indy 300, Hinchcliffe won the race, with a last turn overtake under Takuma Sato.
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. Hinchcliffe was cleared to return to racing on May 15 and finished the season at Andretti Autosport.
Hinchcliffe moved to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2015 to replace Simon Pagenaud. 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. He remained hospitalized during the race and Ryan Briscoe took Hinchcliffe's position for the race. 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. Hinchcliffe would also dominate the Firestone 600 later that year, only to finish 2nd in a photo finish to Graham Rahal. Hinchcliffe would go onto finish 13th in the season standings.
On April 9, 2017, two years after his last win, Hinchcliffe won his first race of the season at Long Beach.
For the 2012 season, Hinchcliffe replaced Danica Patrick as driver of the Andretti Autosport GoDaddy car, renumbered to #27, the same used by Canadian drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve.
At the 2012 Indianapolis 500, Hinchcliffe qualified 2nd overall while wearing a pair of gloves 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.
Hinchliffe returned to Andretti for 2013, and started the season by winning the season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, for his first series victory. Later, in Brazil for the Sao Paulo Indy 300, Hinchcliffe won the race, with a last turn overtake under Takuma Sato.
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. Hinchcliffe was cleared to return to racing on May 15 and finished the season at Andretti Autosport.
Hinchcliffe moved to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2015 to replace Simon Pagenaud. 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. He remained hospitalized during the race and Ryan Briscoe took Hinchcliffe's position for the race. 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. Hinchcliffe would also dominate the Firestone 600 later that year, only to finish 2nd in a photo finish to Graham Rahal. Hinchcliffe would go onto finish 13th in the season standings.
On April 9, 2017, two years after his last win, Hinchcliffe won his first race of the season at Long Beach.
My favorite Indy driver...I became an instant fan when he was "Manica"
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