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IndyCar: James Hinchcliffe tipped to drive for Arrow McLaren SP despite Chevrolet switch

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: James Hinchcliffe of Canada, driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motosports Honda, looks on during US Concrete Qualifying Day for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 07: James Hinchcliffe of Canada, driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motosports Honda, looks on during US Concrete Qualifying Day for the NTT IndyCar Series - DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Despite the partnership involving Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, McLaren and Chevrolet, James Hinchcliffe has been tipped to return to the team for the 2020 IndyCar season.

James Hinchcliffe has worked closely with Honda for a number of years, and he has driven a Honda-powered IndyCar in each of the last six seasons going back to his final season at Andretti Autosport in 2014.

Hinchcliffe, who has driven for Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ever since the 2015 season, has appeared regularly in commercials for Honda. With the team under contract with Honda for the 2020 season and Hinchcliffe under contract with the team for the 2020 season as well, all appeared to be well and good for after the 2019 season.

And then McLaren, having been rumored to strike for the last three seasons but never having done so, finally struck.

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McLaren and Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports have officially formed a partnership to become Arrow McLaren Racing SP, and because Honda have been and continue to be unwilling to supply the Woking-based team with engines, this caused the team to end their contract with Honda one year early and switch with Chevrolet.

This news came despite the fact that Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports co-owner Sam Schmidt stated that McLaren’s deteriorated relationship with Honda “alienated” his team from being a potential partner in a McLaren deal involving Chevrolet.

Apparently that really didn’t matter.

So what will happen to Hinchcliffe?

According to Hinchcliffe himself, nothing.

Here is what he had to say about the matter.

Schmidt, while he didn’t confirm that Hinchcliffe will return to the team next year, echoed the same sentiment. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to Motorsport.

"“As far as we’re concerned, we have another year on James’ contract and we intend on fulfilling that. Today’s announcement was obviously about McLaren, Chevrolet, Arrow and ourselves, and we wanted to get that out there for the sake of the commercial deals so we can start working on joint deals for next year. Then we figured we’d deal with driver announcements in the coming weeks.”"

Additionally, a McLaren representative confirmed that Hinchcliffe’s contract had not been voided despite this blockbuster deal. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to RACER.

"“James Hinchcliffe is a great member of the team and has a contract through 2020, and we look forward to confirming drivers soon.”"

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If James Hinchcliffe does return to Arrow McLaren Racing SP for the 2020 IndyCar season, who will the team sign to be their second driver? If he does not return to the team, for which team will he end up driving, and which two drivers will Arrow McLaren Racing SP sign for next year? There are many possibilities to consider, which you can read about in more detail here.