James Hinchcliffe says that, if anything, he won’t feel “like the new kid on the block” with the addition of Carlos Munoz to the Andretti Autosport team.
Hinchcliffe, who won three races in the 2013 IndyCar Series season in his second year with the team, is among the drivers in Indianapolis early this week for physicals, meetings and media to kick off 2014. Competition updates and safety initiatives will be among the topics addressed during meetings with INDYCAR officials Jan. 14-15.
Munoz, who competed in three IndyCar Series races last year while driving a full Firestone Indy Lights season, said he’s looking forward to a second round of testing in early February and finally the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 30.
“All of us, we want to win,” said Munoz, referencing teammates Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Hinchcliffe. “There is a lot of experience and talent and in my rookie season I look to be at the level I was at those three races (in 2013).”
Munoz started and finished second in his inaugural Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in an Andretti Autosport-prepared car. He also filled in for an injured Ryan Briscoe in a Panther Racing car in Race 2 at Toronto — after placing fourth in the Firestone Indy Lights race — and filled in for E.J. Viso in an Andretti Autosport car in the season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
The test window opens later this week, with a Chevrolet manufacturer session at Sebring International Raceway scheduled. A.J. Foyt Racing with Takuma Sato behind the wheel of the Honda-powered No. 14 ABC Supply car, also is scheduled to test that day on the 1.68-mile Sebring circuit.
