The Mayor of Hinchtown – James Hinchliffe – used his Facebook account to state: “So I’m not usually high on New Year’s resolutions but I’m going to try really hard in 2016 to not get shish-kabobbed.” He even said he felt for Olaf the impaled snowman from Disney’s Frozen!

Kidding aside, Oakville’s Hinchcliffe can’t wait for the start of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series March 11-13 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. After one win in five starts last year in his first season with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Hinchcliffe sustained life threatening injuries on May 18 during prep for the Indianapolis 500. A broken part of suspension from his car pierced his upper left thigh and safety crew members kept Hinchcliffe from bleeding to death. After two surgeries and also overcoming the effects of a neck injury from that brutal crash on Turn 3, Hinchcliffe was back training just four-plus months later.

Hinchcliffe broke into the IndyCar Series and scored Rookie of the Year in 2011 with Newman/Haas Racing. He spent the next three years with Andretti Autosport. His first IndyCar win came at St. Petersburg in 2013 as he registered three wins that year and ranked eighth on the circuit for a second consecutive season.

In his second start last year with Peterson Schmidt Motorsports, Hinchcliffe steered his Honda to the checkered flag at the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana.

The Mayor of Hinchtown can rest assured he’s got a nation rooting for his successful return – and best IndyCar Series season yet – in 2016.