Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Five possible replacement candidates for Takuma Sato in 2018

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Takuma Sato, driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Takuma Sato, driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 29: James Hinchcliffe of Canada, driver of the #5 Schmidt Peterson Motosports Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 29: James Hinchcliffe of Canada, driver of the #5 Schmidt Peterson Motosports Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

James Hinchcliffe

Remember the reference on the last slide to Andretti Autosport’s most recent win at a non-shortened road or street course race? That 2013 Sao Paulo race was won by none other than James Hinchcliffe, and he did it in epic fashion.

Hinchcliffe, 30, is set to become IndyCar’s top free agent this offseason. His skill on the track and his general character and personality off the track make him a sponsor’s dream, which could help him land a ride with the top-tier Andretti Autosport team he once drove for.

Hinchcliffe starting driving for Andretti Autosport in the 2012 season in what was supposed to be the late Dan Wheldon’s car. Before his death in October of 2011, Wheldon was set to replace Danica Patrick after she made her move to the NASCAR Nationwide (now Xfinity) Series back in 2012.

However, Hinchcliffe ultimately ended up with the ride in 2012. He stayed there through the 2014 season, spending two seasons with the team while they were with Chevrolet and the final season with the team when they were with Honda. He won a total of three races in 52 attempts over three seasons with the team, with all of those wins coming in 2013.

In the three seasons since Hinchcliffe’s departure from Andretti Autosport, he has driven for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in a Honda car, so he has proven that he can drive for either a Chevrolet or a Honda team. In his three seasons with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, he has two victories in 36 races, with his most recent win coming at Long Beach earlier this season.

While Hinchcliffe has had some success at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, his best two career IndyCar seasons up to now were undoubtedly the 2012 and 2013 seasons when he drove for Andretti Autosport and finished in 8th place in the championship standings. Could he reunite with the team in 2018?