James Hinchcliffe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2021
Nationality	Canadian
Born	(1986-12-05) December 5, 1986 (age 38) North York, Ontario, Canada
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season	2014
Current team	Pfaff Motorsports
Racing licence	FIA Gold
Car no.	9
Former teams	Mazda Motorsports, SpeedSource, Starworks Motorsport
Starts	7
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	26th in 2024
Previous series
2009–10 2006–08 2006–07 2005 2004	Indy Lights Atlantic Championship A1 Grand Prix Star Mazda Series Formula BMW USA
Awards
2010 2011 2024	Greg Moore Legacy Award IndyCar Rookie of the Year Tony Renna Rising Star Award CMHF Inductee
IndyCar Series career
161 races run over 11 years
2020 position	23rd
Best finish	8th (2012, 2013)
First race	2011 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (Barber)
Last race	2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (Long Beach)
First win	2013 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last win	2018 Iowa Corn 300 (Iowa)
Wins Podiums Poles 6 18 1

James Douglas Meredith Hinchcliffe (born December 5, 1986) is a Canadian race car driver. He currently races in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Pfaff Motorsports. James is also a commentator for FOX Sports. He is most famous for racing in the IndyCar Series.

Hinchcliffe won six races during his time with Andretti Autosport and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. In 2015, he had a serious crash while practicing for the Indianapolis 500. He recovered and even won the pole position for the same race the next year!

In 2016, he appeared on the TV show Dancing with the Stars and finished in second place. People often call him "Hinch" or "the Mayor of Hinchtown."

James Hinchcliffe's Racing Journey

Starting in Racing

James Hinchcliffe was born in North York, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Oakville, Ontario. His racing journey began when he got a go-kart for his 9th birthday. He started racing cars in 2003. In his first year, he finished third in the Bridgestone Racing Academy F2000 series.

The next year, 2004, he was the top rookie in Formula BMW USA, winning three races. In 2005, he raced in the Star Mazda Series, finishing third overall with three more wins. In 2006, he joined the Champ Car Atlantic Series with Forsythe Racing. He won one race and had two other podium finishes.

Racing for Canada: A1 Grand Prix

James also raced for A1 Team Canada in the A1 Grand Prix series. This was a unique series where drivers represented their home countries. In one race in the Czech Republic, he finished second in the sprint race and led the main race for a long time. He ended up finishing fifth after a small issue. He also raced in China and New Zealand, showing his skills on the international stage.

Moving Up: Indy Lights Series

For the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Hinchcliffe competed in Indy Lights. This series is often a stepping stone to the IndyCar Series. In 2010, he had a great year, winning three races and finishing second in the championship. His success in Indy Lights helped him get noticed for the next big step in his career.

IndyCar Series Adventures

First Steps in IndyCar (2011)

In April 2011, James Hinchcliffe got his big break. He signed with Newman/Haas Racing to race in the 2011 IndyCar Series. He made his first start at Barber Motorsports Park. In only his second race, he finished fourth at Long Beach, which was a fantastic result!

He also raced in his first Indianapolis 500 that year. He started 13th but had a crash during the race. At the end of the season, he was named Rookie of the Year, beating out another talented driver, J. R. Hildebrand. After the 2011 season, Newman/Haas Racing stopped racing in IndyCar, making Hinchcliffe a free agent.

Joining Andretti Autosport (2012–2014)

Hinchcliffe in 2013

On January 10, 2012, it was announced that Hinchcliffe would join Andretti Autosport. He took over the famous No. 27 car, which was also used by Canadian racing legends Gilles Villeneuve and Jacques Villeneuve.

At the 2012 Indianapolis 500, Hinchcliffe qualified in second place! He even carried a pair of gloves belonging to his hero, Greg Moore, inside his racing suit. In the race, he led some laps and finished a strong sixth.

The 2013 season was amazing for Hinchcliffe. He won the very first race of the season in St. Petersburg, Florida, which was his first-ever IndyCar victory! Later that year, he won again in Brazil, making a thrilling last-turn pass to take the win. He also won a third race in Iowa.

In 2014, during a race in Indianapolis, Hinchcliffe was hit by flying debris. He suffered a concussion but quickly recovered and was cleared to race again.

A New Team and a Big Comeback (2015–2019)

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

Hinchcliffe in 2019

In 2015, Hinchcliffe joined Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He won his first race with the new team in New Orleans. However, during practice for the 2015 Indianapolis 500, he had a very serious crash. A part of his car broke, and he was badly injured. The quick actions of the IndyCar safety team were very important in saving his life. He spent time in the hospital recovering.

A year later, on May 22, 2016, Hinchcliffe made an incredible comeback. He won the pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, exactly one year after his crash! He finished seventh in that race. Later that year, he finished a very close second in another race.

On April 9, 2017, Hinchcliffe won his first race of the season at the Long Beach Grand Prix. In 2018, he faced a challenge when he failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. But he bounced back and won a race in Iowa in July.

In October 2019, his team, now called Arrow McLaren SP, decided to make some changes. Hinchcliffe was no longer a full-time driver for them, but he remained under contract to help with team events.

Back with Andretti Autosport (2020–2021)

On February 19, 2020, Andretti Autosport announced that Hinchcliffe would return to their team for a few races. He finished 7th in the Indianapolis 500. Later that season, he took over another car for the final three races.

In 2021, Hinchcliffe raced full-time for Andretti Autosport again. He had a great moment when he finished third at the first-ever Music City Grand Prix. On December 12, 2021, James announced that he would step down from full-time racing. He then joined NBC Sports as a commentator for the IndyCar Series races.

Life Outside the Race Track

James Hinchcliffe married his high school sweetheart, Canadian actress Rebecca "Becky" Dalton, on August 3, 2019. If he hadn't become a professional racing driver, James once said he wanted to be a motorsports journalist.

On February 17, 2024, James Hinchcliffe was honored by being inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. At 37 years old, he became the youngest person ever to receive this award!

IndyCar Series Summary

Indianapolis 500 Results

Images for kids

• 

  Hinchcliffe at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2021

• 

  Hinchcliffe in 2013

• 

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

• 

  Hinchcliffe in 2019

See also

In Spanish: James Hinchcliffe para niños