The Canadian was abruptly dropped by Arrow McLaren SP at the end of 2019, leaving him scrambling to find a ride for 2020.
Genesys, a “global leader in cloud customer experience and contact center solutions” stepped up to sponsor him in the #29 Andretti Autosport-Honda for three races – at Texas Motor Speedway, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indy 500.
When Zach Veach stood down from Andretti’s #26 entry in late September, Hinchcliffe subbed for the final three races.
But Hinchcliffe, who has six IndyCar wins to his name, says he never doubted he could switch up his bit-part role to a full-time entry for 2021.
“Honestly I never really had that outlook because I was supposed to be on the grid,” said the 2016 Indy 500 polesitter.
“I never thought that I should be anywhere else. So the drive and the fight was always going to be there to come back.
“It was a weird year, for sure, but in a lot of ways, had it not happened the way it did, the opportunity that I find myself in now wouldn’t have presented itself.
“It’s one of those ‘door close, window open’ deals. I truly am a believer that everything happens for a reason, and there’s a reason it all played out the way that it did.|
While incumbent Andretti Autosport sponsor Capstone Turbine Corporation will sponsor the #29 car for six races, Genesys has increased its presence with Hinchcliffe and the team, so that it will be primary partner for 10 of the 17 races. That leaves only the sponsor for his home race in Toronto as yet unannounced.
Hinchcliffe, who raced for Andretti Autosport in 2012-14 and scored his first three wins at the team, said the pace of the cars in the St. Petersburg season finale meant that “expectations are high” within the camp.
“Basing off the races that we had last year with our partial season, we were really starting to gel at the end of it. It’s obviously always tough coming in as a part-timer and especially with a switch to a new team. But throughout the course of the year, we got to understand each other and learn how each other works and kind of get that group back moulding together and gelling together.
“I think expectations are high for the year. We’ve got a pretty stacked lineup with Ryan [Hunter-Reay], Alex [Rossi], Colton [Herta] and myself.
“You look at Mid-Ohio [Andretti Autosport 1-2-3 in Race 2] and what could have been potentially another podium sweep at St. Pete before Alex, Colton and I ran out of talent.
“But the pace was there so we’re very excited to get the season started and hit the ground running.”
“The engineering staff that I’m working with is a little bit changed from the races last year, but for the most part it’s a lot of familiar faces, so I think that’s a huge advantage.”
“If we can have a good sort of first stint here going into the month of May, it’s going to set us all up for a good shot at being in the championship fight come Long Beach.”