Canadian IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe readies for new challenge

Hinchcliffe with his girlfriend Kirsten

Canadian IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe drives really fast for a living, so he must like taking risks.

After three years with Andretti Autosport, the personable Canuck will be changing wheels for the upcoming season to upstart Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, co-owned by Calgary resident Ric Peterson.

Hinchcliffe was in town Thursday to talk about the new multi-year deal he's inked with a team that's just finished its third year of racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

"The timing was just right," Hinchcliffe said of his decision to pursue other racing avenues. "My contract was up and they had a contract available at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and Ric has always wanted a Canadian driver in the car. For me, as the only Canadian driver, to be able to connect with the only Canadian team owner, is a really cool feeling."

Peterson isn't making a huge leap of faith with Hinchcliffe, considering the racing success the Canuck has had since he was named the IndyCar rookie of the year in 2011, when he drove for Newman/Haas.

"We race on four different types of tracks (small oval, large, super-speedway oval, road courses) and he's good on all those types of tracks," Peterson said. "We thought he was the best possible driver to help us accomplish our goals, which is winning the Indianapolis 500 and winning the championship."

But the Oakville, Ont., native isn't going in blind, either. He's done his due diligence and he's liked what he's seen from such a young team punching above its weight.

"They've done so much, with so little experience, in the grand scheme of things," Hinchcliffe said. "They've got as many years in IndyCar racing as some of these teams have decades, and it's impressive to see what they've done."

Last year, SPM driver Simon Pagenaud drove the No. 77 car and finished fifth in the IndyCar points chase, and drove one of only two cars not named Penske, Chip Ganassi or Andretti that finished in the top 10.

"For what they've accomplished in the short time, you'd think a team this young still has a lot of room to grow and they're already at such a high level," Hinchcliffe said. "To be part of it, and to push them forward, to that next level, and to fight for championships and Indy 500 races is something."

But the affable Canadian is leaving a very successful team with a proven track record, and jumping, somewhat, into the void. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"It's exciting and terrifying at the same time," Hinchcliffe said. "You've got to re-learn everybody, learn how everyone works, personalities, learn to work with the engineers. Every team does certain things a little differently, and you have to fit in to new procedures and a new organization. There is a lot of unknown, for sure."

Last season, Hinchcliffe made 18 starts, had four top-five finishes, eight top-10s and finished 12th in points.

"I'm excited because he's a great driver, he's a great personality and the team loves him already," Peterson said. "The fact that he's Canadian is a bonus. He's the only Canadian left driving in IndyCar. He's only 27-years-old and, hopefully, we can have him for a quite a long time."

And what about trying to bust up the exclusive boys club, dominated by Penske, Chip Ganassi and Andretti?

"It's (going to be) tough," Hinchcliffe said. "There are four Andretti cars, four Chip Ganassi cars and four Penske cars. Half the field is being run by the big three teams in the series. We are the little guy going up against them. I think we can compete. The cars are fast, the pit-stops are good and that's what you need to be competitive in this series."

Not to mention a little bit of risk. Calgary Sun