INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar rookie of the year James Hinchcliffe has been hired to drive for Andretti Autosport in 2012.
Hinchcliffe will take over the team’s Go Daddy entry, which was left vacant when Danica Patrick jumped to NASCAR. The team also had previously reached agreement with Dan Wheldon to take Patrick’s spot late last season, but Wheldon was killed in the season-ending race at Las Vegas.
John Lopes, the team’s chief marketing officer, says the team ranked all of the world’s available open-wheel drivers in a variety of categories and that Hinchcliffe came out No. 1 overall. Lopes says Go Daddy also liked Hinchcliffe’s personality and online following.
Last season, Hinchcliffe drove for Newman-Haas Racing. The team announced Dec. 1 that it would not compete in IndyCar this season.
