James Hinchcliffe Suiting Up for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for 2015 IndyCar Season

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

 

If you live in the Canadian province of Ontario, October of 2014 revolves around the campaigns by individuals to lead cities and towns. The 27-year-old Oakville, Ontario race car driver known as the mayor of Hinchtown has chosen to this month announce a substantial change to his devoted populus.

After three seasons piloting a #27 machine for Andretti Autosport as part of the IndyCar Series, James Hinchcliffe has declared he will hop over to the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports organization for what will be a multi-year deal starting 2015. A popular driver not only in Canada but on the whole IndyCar scene, Hinchcliffe's move is definitely a major wave to be sent through the series. "To see what they have accomplished in the last few seasons has been incredible. Winning races, being competitive at all tracks and finishing in the top five in the championship against more experienced teams at this level is impressive. Because they are young, there is still room for them to grow and improve, and that's an exciting thought for me." said Hinchcliffe on the incentive for signing with the team co-owned by Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson.





In four seasons of IndyCar competition, James Hinchcliffe has driven for Newman/Haas Racing in 2011 and Andretti Autosport. Crowning achievement for the young Canadian time in IndyCar has consisted of the 2011 Rookie of the Year award and being named IndyCar's most popular driver in 2012. His 2013 season with Andretti Autosport driving the GoDaddy-sponsored Chevrolet-powered car is viewed as his more successful in the series so-far. All three career victories were scored in Hinchcliffe's 2013 IndyCar season. The 2014 season for James Hinchcliffe was a disappointment finishing 12th in the overall drivers standings. His top finish in competition last season was third at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Starting in 2015, Hinchcliffe will be piloting the #77 car recently vacated by Simon Pagenaud (Pagenaud weeks ago signed a deal to drive for Team Penske for the upcoming IndyCar season). In 2014, the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team found victory lane twice and driver Pagenaud to fifth in the overall points. Leaving Andretti Autosport, the career path for Hinchcliffe heading into 2015 is acquainting him with something new as well as something familiar. In 2009, James Hinchcliffe drove for Sam Schmidt's Indy Lights team finishing in the top-five in points that season. Speaking about the acquisition of the driving services of Hinchcliffe, Sam Schmidt recalled attempting to recruit him in 2011. Schmidt responded, "In fact, he would already be with us driving the No. 77 if he would have been available three years ago. We went after him in 2011, but it didn't work out then."

Sam Schmidt Motorsport Pledges to Use Honda Power in 2012 INDYCAR Season

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Announced ahead of the weekend racing activities at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole-winning team Sam Schmidt Motorsports has affirmed plans to compete in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series season with Honda engines. Competing full-time in the 2011 season with the #77 car driven by French-Canadian driver Alex Tagliani, Honda and the Sam Schmidt Motorsports race team has two poles so far in the ongoing IZOD INDYCAR Series tour. In a press release, team owner Sam Schmidt commented on the team's powerplant choice for next season. “I believe its total commitment to performance, reliability and integrity as a company is perfectly aligned with the goals of Sam Schmidt Motorsports and its partners. We look forward to what we hope will be a long and very productive relationship.” said Schmidt.

Confirming an engine for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, Sam Schmidt Motorsports has been a race team appearing in the news and rumour mill more than once in 2011. A sophomore race team started in 2010 as the FAZZT Race Team (driver Alex Tagliani was one of the co-owners), Sam Schmidt bought into the organization at the beginning of the year saving the #77 INDYCAR team. A 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series highlighted by the Indianapolis 500 qualifying victory on Pole Day, the #77 car's race engineer left to rejoin Andretti Autosport shortly after the 500-mile event.

Questions have also surrounded the driver line-up for 2012 as sources indicate present driver Alex Tagliani is fighting to keep his seat in Sam Schmidt Motorpsorts. Part of entering the FAZZT Race Team in 2010 was a five-year contract to drive the #77 vehicle but it seems unsure if Tagliani's deal is upheld when the team was sold this past winter. Starting the season strong with a 5th place at Long Beach and 6th in the opening IZOD INDYCAR event in St Petersburg, Tagliani has most recently come off a two-race stretch in Canada where he became the center of criticism through instances of contact with other cars. Sam Schmidt Motorsports is currently backing past Firestone Indy Lights driver Martin Plowman for this weekend's race at Mid-Ohio. Rumours about Sam Schmidt Motorsports have a two-car, full-time effort a major wish for the organization.


As Sam Schmidt Motorsports becomes latest established IZOD INDYCAR Series team to commit to their engine choice for next season, the upcoming twin-turbocharged V-6 powerplant constructed by Honda Racing Development is a popular so far in the stages leading up to next season. Powerhouse team Chip Ganassi Racing as well as long-time IRL/INDYCAR Series operation AJ Foyt Racing both announced their intentions to retain the services of Honda Racing Development. Competing engines for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR season has Chevrolet and Lotus based within the series.