Academy graduate makes IndyCar debut
April 18th, 2011
Bridgestone Racing Academy graduate James Hinchcliffe makes IndyCar debut in Alabama and California for the Newman/Haas Team and sponsor Sprott Asset Management.
Having raced karts successfully until 2002, James graduated from our three-day race license course and finished 3rd overall in the Bridgestone Racing Academy's Series in 2003 with five wins, four poles and 11 podium results. From 2004 to 2010 James ran in Formula BMW, Formula Mazda, A1GP, Formula Atlantic and Indy Lights.
Jeremy Hinchcliffe carefully chose the Bridgestone Racing Academy as his son's initial training ground for race cars due to the Academy's 26-year injury-free safety record, comprehensiveness of the programs, and purpose built training track (with very few walls and guard rails).
In his very first IndyCar event at Barber Motorsports Park, James quickly displayed his potential in spite of his rookie status by qualifying 8th beside 2011 Series Champion Dario Franchitti. Fortunately, after a lap-1 spin James impressively raced back up to 10th with two thirds of the race still to go before getting taken out by a spinning fellow IndyCar driver.
Long Beach presented James with his first taste of IndyCar street racing to which he served up a great 4th place finish (followed by the 5th place of fellow Bridgestone Racing Academy alumni Alexandre Taligani). We were proud to hear the TV telecast announcers identifying James as a new rising star!
James will be back at the Bridgestone Racing Academy this fall for the third year of his gift back to his karting community whereby he judges an invitation-only, complimentary one-day test of karters and awards one racer the Academy's $3995 three-day race license course.
Detailed James Hinchcliffe driver record
2010
- Finished second in Firestone Indy Lights championship for Team Moore Racing with three wins (Long Beach, Edmonton and Chicagoland).
- Had series-best four pole positions (St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Watkins Glen and Edmonton).
- Had 10 top-five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in 13 starts.
- Won Greg Moore Legacy Award as Firestone Indy Lights' rising star.
2009
- Finished fifth in Firestone Indy Lights for Sam Schmidt Motorsports with best finish of second at Mid-Ohio.
- Recorded five podium finishes, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 15 starts.
2008
- Finished fourth in the Atlantic Championship for Forsythe/Pettit Racing with a win at Laguna Seca, two poles and four podium finishes.
2007
- Finished fourth in the Atlantic Championship for Sierra Sierra Enterprises. Earned three pole positions, six top-five results and nine top-10 results in 12 races.
- Competed for Team Canada in the A1 Grand Prix series.
2006
- Enjoyed a strong rookie season in the Atlantic Championship with Forsythe Championship Racing.
- Scored three podium results, including third at Long Beach, his first series victory at Portland and a third-place run at Montréal, where he also captured his first Atlantic pole.
2005
- Finished third in Star Mazda with three victories, three poles and six podium results.
- Finished the season ranked second among all rookies.
2004
- Earned Formula BMW USA Rookie of the Year honors after scoring three wins, four poles and 10 podium finishes.
- Earned Atlantic test with Polestar Racing Group at Sebring.
2003
- Earned five wins, four poles and 11 podium results while finishing third in the Bridgestone Racing Academy F2000 series.
Early Career
- Captured the TKC Junior Rotax Class Karting Championship with seven wins in seven starts in 2002. Earned Junior Rotax Canada Cup title and won TKC Winter Series Championship in 2002. Competed in several regional and national karting series and championships throughout the United States and Canada.
Join one of our Instructors as he races through a lap at the Mosport Driver Development Track!
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