This has been in the works for weeks, if not months, but James Hinchcliffe is finally going to be back in an IndyCar next week at Road America.
His Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team has confirmed the news Thursday morning via a release. The “Mayor of Hinchtown” will be back behind the wheel of the No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda at Road America on Monday.
“This is a day I’ve been looking forward to since May 18th,” Hinchcliffe said in the release. “In fact, even longer because I’ve dreamed of driving an IndyCar around Road America since 2004 when I saw them there for the first time.
“It’s obviously huge for me to be in this position to get back behind the wheel. It’s been tough being out of the car but the support from everyone has been incredible. I can’t thank my family, the team, my doctors, Ric and Sam, Ryan and Conor and the whole IndyCar community enough. I just want to put in a productive effort for the team and hopefully I haven’t forgotten how to pedal one of these things!”
Hinchcliffe has had a couple car outings since his accident May 18 in practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a two-seater across the Golden Gate Bridge and in last weekend’s Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am go-kart race at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indianapolis.
He told MotorSportsTalk after Sonoma he was seeking to be back in the car at the end of September, so this fits right in line with that schedule.