James Hinchcliffe Returns to the Cockpit at Upcoming Road America Test

Topics:  James Hinchcliffe

Monica Hilton
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
September 24, 2015

Indianapolis, IN - September 24, 2015 - Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) driver James Hinchcliffe will return as pilot of the No. 5 Arrow Electronics car on Monday, September 28th during a Verizon IndyCar Series test at Road America.

Hinchcliffe, who has a multi-year contract with SPM, was injured in a crash during practice on May 18 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When doctors determined that the 28-year-old driver would not be cleared to compete for the foreseeable future, the team began exploring replacement options. Australian Ryan Briscoe and American Conor Daly shared the seat for the remainder of the season.

After several surgeries and an extensive recovery process, Hinchcliffe has been medically cleared, and the Canadian fan favorite feels physically and mentally prepared to return to the cockpit.

"This is a day I've been looking forward to since May 18th," said Hinchcliffe. "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!"

SPM team co-owner Sam Schmidt commented, "This has been a long time coming, but we are extremely pleased that James has made a full recovery and will be testing at Road America in the Arrow No. 5 car. All of us appreciate the incredible amount of support James and SPM have received from the motorsports community throughout this process. We are now more confident than ever that this team can be ready and compete for the Championship in 2016. This is the first step in that process."

The September 28th test will take place on the 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season is tentatively scheduled to begin in March.

About Schmidt Peterson Motorsports:
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) was established in 2001 and is owned by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt and Canadian businessman Ric Peterson. Schmidt was paralyzed (quad) in 2000 after an accident during testing at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla. SPM fields cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500, and the Indy Lights Series presented by Cooper Tires. SPM is the most successful team in Indy Lights Series history with sixty-five race wins and seven championships. In addition, SPM won the coveted Indy 500 pole position in 2011, and has won five Verizon IndyCar Series races between 2013 and 2015.

About Conquer Paralysis Now:
Conquer Paralysis Now is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization with a mission to cure paralysis, formerly known as the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. The organization is leading the charge for a cure through funding scientific research, medical treatment and technological advances benefiting those paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, stroke or diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's or in other ways. For more information, visit conquerparalysisnow.org .