Racing legend Mario Andretti has an easy way to sum up his view of Canadian James Hinchcliffe: the guy is the total package.
The young driver, who made his IndyCar debut in 2011, recently clinched his first victory, at the 2013 season-opener in the streets of St. Petersburg. Then, a few races into the calendar, he won again in Brazil.
The Oakville native is also shining off the track. His outgoing personality, which emerged when he replaced headliner Danica Patrick in the GoDaddy.com-sponsored car, seems to be popular with sponsors.
"You look at sponsors that he represents, for instance. Sponsors want attitude," Andretti, whose famous son Michael is Hinchcliffe’s boss at Andretti Autosport, told the Toronto Star.
"You put James in front of a camera and he shines. Then, he goes in the garage, gets in the race car and he wins.
"You want anything better than that?"
Right now, Hinchcliffe would love to put a victory in the Indy 500 to his name.
"It's one of those events that kind of transcends the rest of the sport," the 26-year-old told the Globe and Mail referring to the fabled race.
Hinchcliffe qualified ninth in the 33-car field, ahead of the 97th edition of the 500-mile sprint.
The young driver, who made his IndyCar debut in 2011, recently clinched his first victory, at the 2013 season-opener in the streets of St. Petersburg. Then, a few races into the calendar, he won again in Brazil.
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| James Hinchcliffe stood tall on the podium in Brazil (Photo: LAT/IndyCar) |
The Oakville native is also shining off the track. His outgoing personality, which emerged when he replaced headliner Danica Patrick in the GoDaddy.com-sponsored car, seems to be popular with sponsors.
"You look at sponsors that he represents, for instance. Sponsors want attitude," Andretti, whose famous son Michael is Hinchcliffe’s boss at Andretti Autosport, told the Toronto Star.
"You put James in front of a camera and he shines. Then, he goes in the garage, gets in the race car and he wins.
"You want anything better than that?"
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| James Hinchcliffe at Indy (Photo: Walter Kuhn) |
Right now, Hinchcliffe would love to put a victory in the Indy 500 to his name.
"It's one of those events that kind of transcends the rest of the sport," the 26-year-old told the Globe and Mail referring to the fabled race.
Hinchcliffe qualified ninth in the 33-car field, ahead of the 97th edition of the 500-mile sprint.