INDIANAPOLIS — James Hinchcliffe used to have one of the best seats in the house to witness the Indianapolis 500.
Nine times, he occupied one of only 33 seats that were available to the drivers in the race.
For the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, Hinchcliffe had the best of those 33 seats as he started from the pole.
This year, though, Hinchcliffe traded in that prized seat for another great vantage point on the ninth floor of The Pagoda.
That’s where the NBC broadcast booth is located and the vantage point gives Hinchcliffe a chance to see most of the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway from up high. He can also see all the way to the Pyramids on the north side of I-465 and far into the west toward Brownsburg and Avon.
“It’s definitely a different vantage point for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” Hinchcliffe told SPEED SPORT. “But I hope Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and I put on a good show for everyone.”
So far, Hinchcliffe has not looked back on his decision to change careers.
“There are going to be moments where I miss certain elements of it, but there are a lot of things about it that I don’t miss,” he said. “It’s nostalgic in the pre-race to wish I were still standing on the grid, but it’s still a pretty good seat in the house if you aren’t behind the wheel.”
After a very disappointing season as the driver of the No. 29 Genesys Honda at Andretti Autosport when he finished 20th in points, the popular Canadian had to make a difficult decision.
The six-time IndyCar race winner retired from full-time IndyCar competition to become a member of NBC’s IndyCar broadcast crew. He hopes to compete in selected races when he can fit it into his schedule, but this year has been devoted to his new career as a color commentator for IndyCar on NBC.
“It’s been great,” Hinchcliffe said. “Honestly, it’s gone better than I expected. I haven’t sworn yet, so that is a plus. We’ve been spoiled with some great races to the start of the season and that has really made our job up in the booth and in the production of the television show, it makes our job easier. The whole crew at NBC has helped make my transition as smooth as possible.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far.”
Hinchcliffe brings his unique humor to the telecast, but he also brings recent experience and knowledge to the team.
“Having some very recent experience in the car really helps,” Hinchcliffe said. “What I’ve always tried to do is relate what a driver is going through to the people listening and watching at home in as clear and concise a way as possible.
“I’ve always enjoyed educating people about Indy car racing and what it takes to be an Indy car driver at sponsor events or even running into people at the race track. There is always something people can learn because there is a lot to this sport, and I’ve always enjoyed that side of it.
“Now, I get to do that on the grand scale and to millions of people watching at home. For me, that is a lot of fun.”
As a racing driver, Hinchcliffe often had to drive at speeds over 230mph down the straightaways of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while hearing a spotter and race strategist in his earpiece.
That hasn’t changed, except now that earpiece includes a director and producer talking to Hinchcliffe while he may be talking to the viewer.
To those who haven’t experience it, that can be quite a challenge.
“It’s still the producers, man,” Hinchcliffe said, of which is more difficult. “I was born and bred to have a wheel in my hands and someone speaking in my ear going 200mph. This is still pretty new to me compared to 20 years of racing.
“I still get more nervous during a broadcast than I did in the race car. It takes some getting used to, but so far, so good.”
When Hinchcliffe took the NBC job, he said he was stepping out of the race car, but not retiring.
“The way it was put and very deliberately is I’m done with full-time Indy car racing,” he said. “There is no effort or interest to go back to a full-time program. That’s not to say I might not run in the Indianapolis 500 again.
“Aside from that, we have some interesting prospects in the sports car world that are developing. I’d love to be driving something, man.
“If it has four wheels and an engine, I’d love to drive it. I’ve always wanted to do more of the sports car stuff and now I have the freedom to do it.
“Hopefully, we can put some stuff together for 2023 and go from there.”