IndyCar: James Hinchcliffe reunites with Andretti Autosport for Indy 500

James Hinchcliffe is set to reunite with Andretti Autosport in the 2020 IndyCar season, driving for the team in the Indy 500 and in two other races as well.

James Hinchcliffe, who drove full-time for Andretti Autosport from the 2012 IndyCar season to the 2014 season before making the move to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, is set to return to Michael Andretti’s team for three races in the 2020 season.

The 33-year-old Canadian is set to pilot the #29 Honda in the two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the GMR Grand Prix on the track’s road course on Saturday, May 9 and the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 on the oval on Sunday, May 24.

He is also set to compete in the Texas Indy 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 6.

More from IndyCar

He is set to join full-time Andretti Autosport drivers Zach Veach, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Colton Herta and Marco Andretti in these three races.

Last month, Hinchcliffe secured sponsorship from Genesys to compete in the two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it was not revealed for which team he would be driving, although his ties to Honda led to speculation that he would end up with one of the Honda teams.

He proceeded to release two Twitter videos subtly hinting than an announcement about the matter could be on its way, and indeed it was.

Here is what Hinchcliffe had to say about this opportunity in a team release.

"“Honestly, it’s so nice being able to announce some more good news. It’s no secret that the 2020 season isn’t going to be exactly what we were expecting, but being able to start the new year with the announcement that Genesys was stepping in to save our season and partner with us was awesome, and now adding the next big piece in my reunion with Andretti Autosport just really makes it feel like the momentum is going our way. I can’t wait to work with this group again and to get back behind the wheel of an IndyCar!”"

Here is what Michael Andretti had to add.

"“We’re really pleased to be able to welcome James back into the Andretti team. He has, for sure, been knocked down a few times by this sport and to be able to help him meet the challenge is really special. We had a lot of fun, and some great successes with James when he was part of the team before, and we’re really looking forward to picking up where we left off.“I’d also like to welcome Genesys to the Andretti family for their first experience in INDYCAR racing. We now have three, major Indiana-based companies in our portfolio, along with several other brands that call Indianapolis home. It’s special to see these companies supporting Indiana’s home sport of INDYCAR racing, and we’re proud to carry them each with us. We are looking forward to working with James and the Genesys team to deliver both on and off-track success.”"

Hinchcliffe has finished as high as third place in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course race, recording that podium finish back in 2016. He was struck in the head by debris in his lone appearance in the race driving for Andretti Autosport back in 2014, ending his race early with a concussion.

In three Indy 500 starts for Andretti Autosport, Hinchcliffe finished as high as sixth place (2012), which is also his best ever finish in his seven starts in the race. He started from the front row in two of his three starts for the team, although his lone pole position not only for the Indy 500 but in his IndyCar career came in 2016.

At Texas Motor Speedway, Hinchcliffe’s best finish is his second place finish in 2016. He finished as high as fourth for Andretti Autosport (2012) in three starts. He added another fourth place finish in 2018.

Hinchcliffe had initially been slated to compete full-time for Arrow McLaren SP in the 2020 season after Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports announced a partnership with McLaren in August.

Although they had to end their contract with Honda a year early and Hinchcliffe is tied to Honda, everything appeared to be in place for the 33-year-old Canadian to return driving a Chevrolet-powered car.

But in October, the team confirmed 2018 and 2019 Indy Lights champions Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew, ironically two former Andretti Autosport Indy Lights drivers, as their two full-time drivers for the 2020 season, leaving Hinchcliffe without a ride.

Next. Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time. dark

The GMR Grand Prix is the fifth race on the 17-race 2020 IndyCar schedule and is set to be broadcast live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Speedway, Indiana on NBC beginning at 3:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9.

The 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 is the sixth race on the schedule and is set to be broadcast live from the track’s oval on NBC beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 24.

The Texas Indy 600 is the ninth race on the 2020 schedule and is set to be broadcast live from Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on NBC Sports Network beginning at 8:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6.

IndyCar: James Hinchcliffe reunites with Andretti Autosport for Indy 500, two other races

By Asher Fair | Feb 19, 2020

James Hinchcliffe is set to reunite with Andretti Autosport in the 2020 IndyCar season, driving for the team in the Indy 500 and in two other races as well.