IndyCar: The unmatched impact of James Hinchcliffe

James Hinchcliffe, who recently announced that he is stepping away from full-time competition, transcended the sport of IndyCar in ways no other driver could.

As the checkered flag waved on the streets of Long Beach last September, it would be the last time we’d see the combination of red gloves and bright orange helmet passing under the flag stand as a full-time IndyCar competitor.

In December, James Hinchcliffe announced on social media that he’d be stepping away from IndyCar as a full-time driver after 11 seasons.

Several pictures from Hinchcliffe’s career accompanied the announcement.

Even though he won’t be competing out on track, he announced a mere two days later that he’d be swapping his helmet in for a headset, becoming an analyst in the NBC booth for IndyCar and IMSA races.

Looking back on his career, Hinchcliffe didn’t set the IndyCar world ablaze with championships or Indianapolis 500 wins.

On the surface, six wins and one pole in an 11-year career isn’t exactly eye-popping, but he wasn’t just a race car driver.

Hinchcliffe took on the role of being a spokesperson, promoter, crowd pleaser, fierce competitor, survivor, friend, and race car driver all at once.

He impacted IndyCar through every outlet imaginable.

We’re all brought into environments for different reasons in life, and Hinchcliffe was brought to IndyCar not only to be successful on the track but to impact the lives of so many adoring people.

Ask any driver who has raced against Hinchcliffe what they think about him, and you’re only going to crack a smile out of that competitor.

Ask any media member who has interviewed him, and they will have smiles from ear to ear, with a story attached.

Even the fans, or citizens of the moniker city of “Hinchtown”, beam at any interaction they’ve ever had with the Canadian.

Hinchcliffe embodies what the standard should be for any professional athlete. He never just shows up and does an interview begrudgingly or quickly snaps a picture without a second thought.

He exhibits a particular level of care for each individual with whom he crosses paths that nobody in motorsports can match.

Whether that’s through his countless blood drive events or his infectious charisma that captivates the lives of an entire sport, the list goes on and on.

In 2015, when a vicious crash nearly took his life at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his passion and admiration for the sport he calls home went into high gear.

He not only pushed through rehab, but he also flew through it. He put the “Mayor” seal on it as he found himself back on track only four months later.

Just like a scene out of a movie, Hinchcliffe took the pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the very place that pinned him to the line of no return just one year earlier.

Pure insanity.

It was a proud moment for every person in the stands, on pit road, and watching TV.

Fast forward another year later, and Hinchcliffe conquered IndyCar’s version of Hollywood in the streets, notching a dream come true by winning the Long Beach Grand Prix.

When the Mayor succeeded on the track, smiles in unison would commence around the venue.

No matter the profession or sport, people love seeing genuine, good people succeed.

Hinchcliffe is already sorely missed for his hijinx on pit road before strapping into a race car. However, he’ll be just a couple feet higher above the track, giving the growing viewership on NBC a show that will genuinely be must-see TV.

Will this be the very last time we see the Canadian in an IndyCar seat? We certainly hope not. However, it’s safe to say that Hinchcliffe’s positive energy has altered the sport for good, no matter the profession.