Indy 500: Did James Hinchcliffe hint at looming IndyCar announcement?

By Asher Fair | Feb 6, 2020

FORT WORTH, TX - AUGUST 27: James Hinchcliffe driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda speaks during a media conference before the Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on August 27, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Mike Stone/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) /

James Hinchcliffe teased on Twitter that this Friday could feature some kind of announcement regarding his IndyCar career. Will he confirm an Indy 500 ride?

James Hinchcliffe was initially slated to compete full-time for Arrow McLaren SP in the 2020 IndyCar season behind the wheel of the #5 Chevrolet.

While his ties to Honda would have had to come to an end because Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports were forced to end their deal with Honda a year early and switch their engine manufacturer to Chevrolet when they partnered with McLaren to form Arrow McLaren SP, he stated that he was looking forward to working with General Motors again.

But about a month after the 2019 season ended, Arrow McLaren SP confirmed that he would not compete for the team in the 2020 season and that 2018 and 2019 Indy Lights champions Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew would instead be their two full-time drivers.

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Nearly three and a half months later, the 33-year-old Canadian is still without a ride, and the backing that he would receive from Honda and counterpart Honda Canada is not believed to be enough for a full-time ride.

Additionally, Honda would have to supply a 14th engine on a full-time basis for him to have a ride, and reports suggest that 13 is their limit.

But Hinchcliffe did recently secure sponsorship from Genesys, a cloud customer-experience tech company headquartered in Daly City, California, to compete in at least the two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this May: the GMR Grand Prix race on the track’s road course and then, of course, the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 on the oval.

Details, however, remain unknown, namely with which team he will compete in these races.

But we could find that out this Friday, February 7.

Hinchcliffe posted a short video clip on Twitter, accompanied by the date “02.07.20” and the hashtag #CHALLENGEACCEPTED, which he has been using ever since learning that Arrow McLaren SP would not have him back behind the wheel for a sixth straight season in 2020.

02.07.20 // #CHALLENGEACCEPTED pic.twitter.com/ihyTGJ8P0Q
— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) February 4, 2020

What is ironic about this is the fact that Arrow McLaren SP are set to reveal their 2020 car on this date, so an announcement regarding Hinchcliffe to overshadow that event would be somewhat of a case of poetic justice.

Unless he ends up landing a full-time ride with Carlin, the lone Chevrolet team with any open seats remaining, it appears that he will end up competing for a Honda team, given his funding situation.

Dale Coyne Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing are both two-car teams that could add a third car on a part-time basis or perhaps just for the month of May.

Andretti Autosport had planned to run a sixth car on a part-time basis, including for the month of May, for two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, but that is now in doubt given Honda’s disapproval of the deal.

The other multi-car Honda team is Chip Ganassi Racing, although their plans appear to be set with three full-time cars. They haven’t run an extra car for the Indy 500 since 2015.

Regardless, tomorrow looks like it will be quite a big day in Hinchcliffe’s IndyCar career.

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For which team will James Hinchcliffe end up competing this May in the GMR Grand Prix and the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and will his deal feature more than just these two races throughout the 17-race 2020 IndyCar season? Will said deal be confirmed tomorrow as indicated?