James Hinchcliffe is set to return to a race track on 28 September during an official test session at Road America in the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda. “I expect to be grinning like an idiot for the first few runs,” said Hinchcliffe
Following on from Tuesday’s test at the Elkhart Lake circuit, the official Indycar session will be closed to the public but feature Andretti Autosport‘s Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dale Coyne Racing‘s Tristan Vautier, KVSH Racing‘s Sebastien Bourdais alongside Hincliffe.
The session will mark Hinchcliffe’s first on-track activity since he sustained a serious thigh injury in May from a practice crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since the incident the Canadian has undergone two surgeries and a lengthly recuperation period as he rebuild his fitness levels before being cleared by IndyCar medical officials.
“This is obviously the day that has been the goal and the motivation to get through the last four months,” said Hinchcliffe. “And the fact that it is at Road America, one of my favorite road courses in the country, makes it that much better.”
Hinchcliffe has previous experience of the Road America circuit from his Pro Mazda and Atlantic Championship days, he also took part in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race there during the 2014 season in a Daytona Prototype.
“I’m under no illusions that it won’t be a massively difficult day,” added Hinchcliffe. “Going to a track we haven’t run, on top of the physical stress of getting back in (a car), but that’s OK. I’m definitely ready for a little hard work.”
