It’s been a rough ride for James Hinchcliffe this year, a move to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for 2015 saw the season start with promising with a win at the second race of the season in Louisiana.
Unfortunately for the ‘Mayor of Hinchtown’ that would be the highlight of the season for him after an accident in practice for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 saw him sustain a serious thigh injury, leaving him in hospital and out for the rest of the season.
This last week has seen the long road to recovery for Hinchcliffe reach a new chapter as he returned to track at Road America in the SPM car at the second official Indycar test at the Elkhart Lake circuit.
Yesterday saw Hinchcliffe presented with a special gift – a starters ring for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The Canadian had qualified in 24th place for the race but his practice accident meant he could not make the start.
“I was looking at my shelf at home where I keep the other (four) rings and was thinking, ‘Man, I’m missing one and it’s always going to bug me,” Hinchcliffe said.
“It’s just so generous of Herff Jones to give me one and it makes me feel a little more connected to the race that I didn’t get to do.”
