There is only one major story emerging out of today’s Verizon IndyCar Series team test at Road America, and that is the return of James Hinchcliffe to an IndyCar cockpit just over four months removed from a near fatal accident in practice for the Indianapolis 500.
The popular Canadian has been highly active on social media in the hours leading up to his return to the No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda, and IndyCar is also present in chronicling his comeback.
The hashtag #HinchI5Back is making the rounds - a play on the No. 5 being embedded into the hashtag - and Hinchcliffe seems seriously thankful for the chance to drive once more.
Seriously, everyone....thank you. That's all I can really get out at this point. Love you all.
— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) September 28, 2015
Here’s a roundup of social posts thus far from the 4.048-mile road circuit.
Note Hinchcliffe isn’t the only driver testing today; Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay, KVSH Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais and Dale Coyne Racing’s Tristan Vautier. A test last week featured nine drivers from five other teams.
.@Hinchtown is back! #Hinchi5back #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/R4gA4wJB7l
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 28, 2015
.@Hinchtown back out for more laps @roadamerica. #Hinchi5back #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/ms9v98JTyR
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 28, 2015
Coming soon! More visor cam from @roadamerica with @Hinchtown and @SPMIndyCar! #Hinchi5Back #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/YDr9tnPjOl
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 28, 2015
.@Hinchtown ready to get back to work. @IndyCar @roadamerica #Hinchi5Back pic.twitter.com/6xxgMCKVYB
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisSports) September 28, 2015
Overheard: @SPMIndyCar: Pit next time by ...@Hinchtown: No I am never coming in ever! #HINCHi5back
— Arni Sribhen (@neckthai) September 28, 2015
Suited up and ready for a day of testing at @roadamerica! #greattobeback #IndyCar pic.twitter.com/18Mxh6W7Kn
— Andretti Autosport (@FollowAndretti) September 28, 2015
We are back on track today with @BourdaisOnTrack and loving being back @roadamerica!!
— KV Racing Technology (@kvracingtech_) September 28, 2015
Back doing what we love and at a track we love too…@RoadAmerica pic.twitter.com/X2gBwCl7l3
— KV Racing Technology (@kvracingtech_) September 28, 2015
Great to see @DaleCoyneRacing and @TristanVautier getting a head start on 2016 and testing today at Road America. #IndyCar
— Steve Wittich (@stevewittich) September 28, 2015
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Because Josef Newgarden’s visor cam wasn’t enough, INDYCAR has also put together a visor cam for James Hinchcliffe. Here that is:
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Thoughts from KVSH Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais on his day back in an IndyCar at the circuit are below: