IndyCar: Hinchcliffe is hungry for victory

Crowned best beginner in 2011 with Newman/Haas Racing, the Canadian eagerly wishes to open his account in a second team with at least as interesting a record, and where he will rub shoulders with Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-reay. “ I am lucky, for my second season, to join another top team, he told Speed. But once you meet them, you find that they don't care about their history, the accolades, the championships? They just want to win the next race and that suits me. This is my motivation. I have spent a long time with my mechanics and engineers over the last few months, and they are hungry for victory. »

James Hinchcliffe discovered his new surroundings during recent testing at Sebring. The development of a new car, the Dallara DW12, is something new for him, the old model having been sufficiently tested since 2003. The cool part this year, after moving up the ranks, is that I can develop a new car and work with an engine manufacturer (in this case Chevrolet concerning him), he continues. It's a turning point in my career that I've been waiting for for a long time, and now that I'm here, I can assure you it's fun. The car is very different from the old one, the turbo requires some getting used to and the carbon brakes are without a doubt what jumps in your face the quickest. There is a lot of time to be gained when braking, and this too will take time for everyone to understand. Playing a role in all of this, I appreciate it. »

These first laps in Florida were not, however, without some technical problems. “ We encountered a few "gremlins", but that's a good thing, he testifies. Everything was smooth last season and so it's positive to have some problems and have to resolve them. From the pilot's point of view, this allows progress: the more there is to solve, the better. Several veterans of Champ Car from the era have this experience, and it is something that young drivers have the chance to discover today. »