Hinchcliffe secures Andretti Autosport return on full-time deal
IndyCar race-winner James Hinchcliffe will become a full-time Andretti Autosport-Honda driver in 2021, making a full-time return to the team he raced for in 2013 after six appearances in 2020
The Canadian, who scored three of his six career victories with Michael Andretti's squad, was dumped by Arrow McLaren SP at the end of the 2019 season following its switch from Honda to Chevrolet power and was forced to take a part-time role with Andretti.
After three race outings in the #29 car with backing from Genesys, including at the Indianapolis 500, he switched to the #26 Gainbridge entry when Zach Veach stepped down with three rounds to go and qualified a season-best fourth in the final round at St. Petersburg.
Hinchcliffe will again team up with team regulars Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Colton Herta, with Marco Andretti electing to step back into a part-time effort that is expected to include the Indy 500.
PLUS: The enigmatic legacy of a misunderstood Indy stalwart
Hinchcliffe said: "This program is something we've been working on since the day we signed our three-race deal with Andretti Autosport last March.
"Being back full-time has always been the goal and it feels so great to know that I will be back on the grid with such an amazing team, one I've had a lot of great memories and success with.
"So many people at Genesys worked hard to get this done, and I am looking forward to representing them this year.
"Even though it's been a long road, the real work starts now, and I can't wait to get to the track and kick off 2021."
Michael Andretti added: "We're really excited to have Hinch back in the car for 2021 and thrilled to welcome Genesys again to the Andretti family, this year in an expanded role.
"This is just the first step in many exciting things for the #29 and we know Genesys will be a great partner serving as the cornerstone to the season for James."
The 2021 season opener at Barber Motorsports Park will be held one week later than planned, on 18 April, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previous article
IndyCar season-opener pushed back to mid-April
Next article
Hinchcliffe: Andretti team will be fast from start of IndyCar season
About this article
| Series | IndyCar |
| Drivers | Marco Andretti , James Hinchcliffe |
| Teams | Andretti Autosport |
| Author | David Malsher |
How Herta's aversion to complacency spells bad news for his IndyCar rivals
Colton Herta's dominant IndyCar win on the streets of St. Petersburg confirmed what rivals have long-suspected - that the second-generation racer is destined for stardom. But it was Herta's comments afterwards that gave perhaps the most interesting insight into a driver that will be around for a long time to come
How good is Palou - and can he be Dixon's main IndyCar title rival?
Last Sunday, Alex Palou delivered his first IndyCar victory on his Chip Ganassi Racing debut. Is the young Spaniard going to become his legendary teammate Scott Dixon’s biggest title threat? DAVID MALSHER-LOPEZ investigates Palou's potential
Can Penske redress the balance in IndyCar's battle of the titans?
IndyCar's gold standard teams Ganassi and Penske are set for another slugfest beginning this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. A poor start to the first season with the new aeroscreen left Josef Newgarden with too much ground to make up on Scott Dixon in the title chase, but his strong end to 2020 suggests a battle royale lies ahead...
The six major IndyCar subplots to follow in 2021
From rookies arriving with big reputations to veterans who still have the fire and an F1-linked squad pushing to join the big leagues, IndyCar has it all this year. Here are six of the key storylines to keep track of
The Indycar season that proves Michael Andretti is better than F1 showed
Often unfairly characterised as a car-breaker, judged for his lack of an Indianapolis 500 win and a disappointing part-season of Formula 1 in 1993, Michael Andretti was highly respected by his rivals and only thwarted greater success by ill-fortune. When it all came together in 1991, he was a truly formidable force
How McLaren is striving towards IndyCar's elite
The second year of McLaren's full-time IndyCar return is looming, with Patricio O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist leading its line-up. Strong team personnel and work behind the scenes means that 2021 could be the year it joins the established elite
The enigmatic legacy of a misunderstood Indy stalwart
Flashes of brilliance amid spells of obscurity have been too common for Marco Andretti. While the third-generation racer has opted to bring his full-time IndyCar career to a close, his peaks and troughs have never been for want of trying
Why American racing's top dog is without equal
A byword for success in business and in motorsport for over 50 years, Roger Penske's importance to the US scene cannot be understated. In an exclusive interview, the custodian of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway reflects on his journey
