INDYCAR Nation, INDYCAR's official fan club, has spoken and James Hinchcliffe, Sebastian Saavedra and Zach Veach have all been voted 'Favorite Driver of the Year.' It was nearly a 'clean sweep' for Andretti Autosport, with Shelby Blackstock coming in second in the USF2000 category.
James Hinchcliffe is taking home the 'Favorite Driver' award in the IZOD IndyCar Series category for the first year. The Toronto native just completed his first full season with Andretti Autosport, after earning IZOD IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year in 2011. He finished the 2012 season eighth in the championship points standings with eight top-ten finishes in the No. 27 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. It became clear early in the season that "The Mayor of Hinchtown" would be a fan favorite when the grassroots "Hinch for Homepage" campaign hit social media and landed Hinchcliffe on the homepage of GoDaddy.com.
"It's really an honor to be selected by the fans as their favorite driver," said Hinchclife. "First, I get elected Mayor, then I got on the Go Daddy homepage and now I'm the fan's favorite. It's been a great year and I can't wait to get back on the track in 2013 and keep it up. But the fans are what it's really all about. I was a fan once, and still am, so to be picked by them is really special."
Two new venues, doubleheaders and Triple Crown among highlights
INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012) – Nineteen races over 16 event weekends highlight the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule announced today.
The expanded schedule includes the return of Indy car racing to Pocono Raceway and the streets of Houston.
With a 400-mile race at Pocono Raceway joining the 500-mile events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway on the schedule, the IZOD IndyCar Series will institute a Triple Crown award, which will pay a $1 million bonus to a driver that wins on all three ovals. A driver that wins two of the three races will be awarded a $250,000 bonus.
Also new for 2013 are Saturday-Sunday doubleheaders scheduled for the street courses at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, Toronto and Houston and the implementation of standing starts at those three venues.
Saavedra had qualified on the pole for the Auto Club Speedway Foundation 100, but finished 14th due to a mechanical failure with the gearbox. He was the only driver to compete in both the Indy Lights and IndyCar series races today.
"This was a very disappointing way of ending the season," said Saavedra. "I know how much effort my AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport team has put into it. We have been working very hard in both Firestone Indy Lights and IndyCar, but that is racing I guess. It is unfortunate, but we have to keep our heads up."
Sebastian Saavedra, Team AFS Racing / Andretti Autosport, No. 27
Saavedra is the Sunoco Pole Award winner for tomorrow's Auto Club Speedway Foundation 100. He will also qualify for the MAVTV100 to race both Firestone Indy Lights and the IZOD IndyCar Series this weekend.
"It was great to have Carlos go ahead of us, he gave me great information that I used for my run, and that was it. We've had great cars, we tested here very early in the season and for sure, we built up good momentum. I am very excited about this pole, it's one more point that we have in the championship. For me, there is one more qualifying session to go."
