James Hinchcliffe
A charismatic IndyCar driver who survived a near-fatal crash and reinvented himself as a sharp, insightful voice in motorsport broadcasting.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian racing driver and commentator·Birthday: December 5·Millennials
Biography
James Hinchcliffe's path in motorsport was defined by resilience and wit. The Canadian from Oakville, Ontario, climbed the open-wheel ladder, his talent and engaging personality making him a fan favorite. His IndyCar career, which began in 2011, was nearly ended in 2015 when a practice crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway impaled his leg; he lost over half his blood volume. His remarkable recovery and return to the same track the following year to win the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 is one of the sport's great comeback stories. After retiring from full-time driving in 2021, Hinchcliffe seamlessly transitioned to the broadcast booth, where his technical knowledge and dry humor have made him a valued commentator for IndyCar and Formula One coverage.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
James was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016 after his near-fatal crash the previous year.
- Captured six IndyCar Series race victories across his career, including wins at the Grand Prix of New Orleans and Iowa Speedway.
- Served as a judge on the international television competition series 'Canada's Greatest Know-It-All' in 2012.
- Named IndyCar's Rookie of the Year in 2011 after competing with Newman/Haas Racing.
Did You Know?
He is nicknamed 'The Mayor of Hinchtown,' a fictional community he created for his fans.
He won the 'Dancing with the Stars' mirrorball trophy in 2021 with professional dancer Sharna Burgess.
He co-owns a successful line of beef jerky called 'Hinchtown Hammer Down.'
He was a contestant on the American version of 'The Amazing Race' with his friend and fellow driver, Alexander Rossi.
“The goal was always to get back in a race car. I never wanted my last memory of driving to be that crash.”
