IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe is set to replace Danica Patrick “as the driver of Andretti Autosport's Go Daddy-sponsored No. 27 Chevrolet” next season in the Izod IndyCar Series, according to Nate Ryan of USA TODAY. Hinchcliffe's new ride seemed “ticketed for Dan Wheldon” before the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion was killed last October in a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Go Daddy CMO Barb Rechterman said that the company “didn't consider leaving IndyCar because it liked the series' international expansion," as China is going to host its first IndyCar race this year. Rechterman said, "It's going to reinvigorate the series." She added that Go Daddy “would use Hinchcliffe in a nationally televised advertising campaign as it did Patrick.” Hinchcliffe said, "If I have to be part of racy advertisements, that's fine. Hopefully we can make a similar splash like with Danica, but maybe appealing to a different demographic. I don't think it'll be good for their marketing if they put me in a bikini" (USA TODAY, 1/10).
YOU'VE BEEN SERVIA-D: SPEEDTV.com’s Robin Miller reported Oriol Servia is “all but signed and sealed for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar season with Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl.” Servia had “been on A.J. Foyt’s short list but lost out to Mike Conway, who brought sponsorship” (SPEEDTV.com, 1/9).
