By: Spencer Neff
January 26, 2021

On Tuesday, Andretti Autosport announced its fourth full-time driver for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season. After months of speculation, James Hinchcliffe will pilot the No. 29 entry, with 10 races sponsored by Genesys. The move comes after Hinchcliffe spent 2012-2014 with the team.

“This program is something we’ve been working on since the day we signed our three-race deal with Andretti Autosport last March! Being back full time has always been the goal and it feels so great to know that I will be back on the grid and with such an amazing team, one I’ve had a lot of great memories and success with,” said Hinchcliffe in today’s press release.

In 2020, Hinchcliffe ran three races for Andretti in a fifth car, as well as three races as a substitute following Zach Veach’s departure from the car. During his part-time role, the Oakville, Ontario native earned a best start of fourth (St. Petersburg, doing so in the No. 26 car at the season. finale. Aside from his time in the car, Hinchcliffe worked as a pit reporter during select NBC broadcasts.

“We’re really excited to have Hinch back in the car for 2021 and thrilled to welcome Genesys again to the Andretti family, this year in an expanded role,” said Andretti Autosport Chairman & CEO Michael Andretti.

“This is just the first step in many exciting things for the No. 29 and we know Genesys will be a great partner serving as the cornerstone to the season for James.”

At the August 23 Indianapolis 500, Hinchcliffe earned a best finish of seventh, leading three laps between the two events (one lap at the 500).

During his 10 year IndyCar career, Hinchcliffe has made 145 starts, winning six times, including three with Andretti in 2013. The last of Hinchcliffe’s victories came in 2017 at the Grand Prix of Long Beach with the current Arrow McLaren SP team.

Along with Hinchcliffe, Genesys made their debut as the title sponsor for the 2020 season opener at Texas Motor Speedway.

“We’re building upon our tremendous partnership with James Hinchcliffe and Andretti Autosport. The success we have seen together goes beyond the deep connection Genesys has with the Indianapolis community,” said Tony Bates, CEO of Genesys.

“James and the entire Andretti team are leaders on the track because they’re empowered with the right technology and data so they can make informed decisions at the right moment. That’s at the heart of every winning customer experience too, and what’s driving our momentum at Genesys.” 

Per Andretti Autosport’s press release, Genesys “boasts a major employee presence in Indianapolis with more than 50 offices worldwide. Genesys technology helps organizations around the globe connect more than 70 billion customer moments each year across voice, text, messaging apps, web chat and social media.”

Genesys will hold primary sponsorship for the No. 29 entry in ten races this season, including the first three events.

Header Image By Chris Jones/INDYCAR